In a recent online event hosted by the Global Alliance for Palestine (GAFP), a number of specialists converged to look at ways to hit back against the Zionist regime’s so-called hasbara — essentially the state’s propaganda machine. [1]
Experts on the evening of 7 April included the likes of Hala Hanina, a PhD researcher from Gaza who focuses on politics and sociology; Tariq Kenney-Shawa, US Policy Fellow at al-Shabaka (The Palestinian Policy Network); Miriyam Aouragh, Professor of Digital Anthropology at the University of Westminster; Nadim Nashif, Executive Director of 7amleh (the Arab Center for Social Media Advancement); and freelance investigative journalist Anas Ambri. [2]
“State-sponsored information warfare”
In a damning statement, British activist Lujane Abdullah, of the Global Alliance for Palestine — chairing the webinar — described the eye-watering sum of £580m recently directed at influencing social media and AI for the year 2026 as “state-sponsored information warfare”. [2]
With such vast funds available for hasbara purposes, it is easy to see how and why so many around the world have and continue to be fooled by the Israeli state, particularly when it comes to narratives around the Palestinian genocide and decades of oppression since 1948 and far earlier.
However, what the experts noted as making hasbara challenging — in their words, being “trapped between a rock and a hard place” — is the transparent nature of the most recent escalation in the genocide since late 2023. [2]
Main points raised in the event
Key focus should be on political activism
Professor Miriyam Aouragh argued that the effectiveness of traditional propaganda has simply been no match for the “live-streamed nature of the genocide”. [2]
Aouragh called upon organisers and activists to be cautious in how and when they respond to pro-Israeli arguments, instead being selective and knowing when responses are worthwhile.
She also argued that the main focus should be on “real political activism” while a panel of experts remain on hand to address and debunk myths. [2]
Role of social media firms in anti-Palestine bias
Also in the webinar, the Executive Director of 7amleh, Nadim Nashif, explained and confirmed something that many of us have been sensing for a long time: systemic bias on platforms operated by the likes of Google and Meta. [2]
He even went as far as to claim that hasbara teams are working with tech companies in order to get pro-Palestine voices shadow-banned, while their own state propaganda is pushed out.
Look to Palestinian accounts for genuine reporting
The PhD researcher Hala Hanina warned attendees that Western media is not the preferred source when one intends to learn the truth of the situation in Palestine. [2]
Indeed, Hanina suggested that Palestinian accounts on the ground ought to be prioritised and amplified, especially as there has been a consistent effort by Western outlets to cast aspersions on Palestinian narratives — even those from government sources.
She also pointed to the outrageous and long-ago debunked myths pedalled by Israel and its allies on beheaded babies and hospitals such as al-Ahli being accused of housing a Hamas command centre and tunnels. Hundreds were killed in a horrific attack on al-Ahli Hospital in January 2024. [3]
Use of open-source intel to make truth have real impact
The event also benefited from the expertise of US Policy Fellow at al-Shabaka, Tariq Kenney-Shawa, who spoke about the use of OSINT (open-source intelligence) to hit back against Israeli disinformation.
Referencing the appalling murder of five-year-old Hind Rajab — and its forensic reconstruction — Kenney-Shawa appealed to activists and organisers to go beyond purely proving what is true and into “making the truth actually have tangible consequences”. [2]
Digging up paper trails to expose those complicit in hasbara
Last but not least, the organisers brought on the freelance investigative journalist Anas Ambri, who showed how Google’s Ads Transparency Centre and US Foreign Agent filings can be used to identify where money is being poured in order to forcefully push out state narratives.
There are many so-called lifestyle influencers as well as faith-based content creators who are peddling Israeli state narratives; the key is identifying who they are, and where the financial incentive is coming from.
Based on this, such individuals and agencies can be exposed and held accountable.
Takeaway messages from the session
The key messages can be listed as follows:
- Hasbara is organised information warfare that is backed by serious financial resources
- Digital suppression is prevalent across the likes of Google and Meta-owned social media platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and others
- We need to utilise OSINT to fact-check and debunk Israeli narratives, while also increasing its effectiveness by lobbying for policies and engaging in mass organisation
- Reactive debunking has been a useful approach, but going forward we should adopt a “disciplined, offensive stance against information warfare” while digging up financial paper trails.
Source: Islam21c
Notes
[1] https://palestine-alliance.org/countering-israels-2026-hasbara-industry-live-webinar/
[3] https://www.islam21c.com/news/israel-has-decimated-gaza-healthcare-system/
