The documentation of the horrors of October 7 changed in favor of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Exaggerated stories and fake news against IDF soldiers are catching on in social networks. Israel’s situation in the world public opinion “has never been so bad. Friends of Israel in an appeal to the government: “We support you, but you are losing public opinion.” Internal reports of the Israeli embassies in the US describe a very difficult picture of the Israeli coverage in the American media. Half of the Muslims in America think, however, that Hamas’s reasons for fighting in Israel are legitimate.
If at the beginning of the war there were expressions of support and empathy towards Israel after the attack by Hamas, the events of October 7 have already been forgotten. The strength of the accusations against Israel is only increasing, and to compare the actions of Hamas, there are also false claims about sexual violence by IDF soldiers against the Palestinians.
Internal reports of the Israeli embassies in the US describe a very difficult picture of the Israeli coverage in the American media. One of the reports reads: “The media waited for a signal from the administration about a change in policy, and when it came – it loosened the reins and published venomous criticism that had been present all along. The harsh reports from Gaza, along with internal tensions in the US, threaten to push moderate writers from the mainstream to adopt critical positions towards Israel and demand Immediate and permanent ceasefire.
The pressure on the Biden administration to harden its stance towards Israel and condition security assistance on a policy change is a warning sign for the future.
An extensive survey by the renowned American research center “ PEW “ which examined the complex views of Americans regarding the Israel-Hamas war, found that the majority of US Jews – 89% believe that Israel’s reasons for going to war against Hamas are legitimate, and only 16% of US Jews think that the reasons that made Hamas fight Israel are legitimate. On the other hand, only 18% of Muslims in the US see Israel’s reasons as legitimate. Half of the Muslims in America think, however, that Hamas’s reasons for fighting in Israel are legitimate.
The reports also reveal an erosion of Israel’s position in Washington due to the escalation. This is clearly reflected in President Biden’s statement about a “red line” regarding military activity in Rafah, and in the speech of Senate Chairman Schumer. Most commentators do not foresee a real turnaround in relations in the immediate term, but warned of potential political damage to both sides. In addition, there have been more calls for the conditionality of American security aid to Israel as a pressure lever for policy change.
On the other hand, warnings were heard that the very discussion of this could strengthen Hamas in its positions and sabotage the chances of a ceasefire. While conservative media outlets present Israel’s policy as legitimate self-defense, liberal media outlets give a platform to writers who echo the Palestinian narrative, sometimes using rhetoric that accuses Israel of “apartheid” and even “genocide.”
Columns calling on the government to renounce support and make security aid conditional are no longer rare, and there are also commentators who are considered moderate.
An internal document dealing with the war in Gaza was published in the US media, revealing that the Biden administration is concerned about the manner in which the fighting is being conducted. The document emphasized the unpopularity of military activity in the Gaza Strip, and claimed: “Israel is making a major strategic mistake.”
The summary of the reports also refers to reports in the “Washington Post” and “Daily Beast” that emphasize the effectiveness of pro-Palestinian activists in influencing public opinion, especially among Democratic-progressive voters. The articles point to the growing dissatisfaction with the Biden administration’s support for Israel, which is reflected in the “Uncommitted” votes in the Democratic primaries and the disturbances at the events of the party’s senior officials.
The tactics of the activists, such as the demand for a ceasefire and the use of the term “genocide”, succeeded in keeping the conflict on the national political front and increasing the pressure on the administration to minimize its support for Israel.
