On April 12, 1945, General Dwight D. Eisenhower witnessed the Nazi Concentration Camps at Ohrdruf. He testified in Crusade in Europe: “I felt it my duty to be in a position from then on to testify first-hand about these things in case there ever grew up at home the belief or assumption that the stories of Nazi brutality were just propaganda.” He wanted to avoid “cynical doubt.” Now, with social media, and technological advancements, the war on public relations allows instantaneous information and misinformation to be spread.
Ayelet Frish, leading strategic adviser, discusses the impact of images circulating during the Israel-Hamas War. IDF ground troops are operating in a Hamas terrorism command center. There is also a focus on humanitarian aid entering Gaza. Frish believes that Israel’s airstrikes and ground offenses have been impactful. The IDF published a photo of the Golani Brigade’s success, which Frish considers to be an important symbol of Israel’s strength. However, Hamas tries to manipulate Israel through psychological warfare using videos.
Frish also points out the difference in the media usage between Israel and Hamas. She believes that Israel’s intention to stop Hamas is clear, even as the terrorist organization uses manipulative tactics. The head of the IDF Spokespersons Unit, Brigadier General Daniel Hagari, provides evidence of Hamas’s crimes against its people in Gaza, which much of the world had denied.
Frish believes that the efforts of Israel’s spokesperson should be an example of combating the psychological war. She suggests that the evidence should at least sow doubt of Hamas’s value of human life. Despite the evidence of Hamas’s use of human shields, some critics remain ignorant. The article also references President Eisenhower’s hesitation to share the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps and the importance of sharing images to fight propaganda.
