Pallywood Tactics: Al-Shifa Hospital and Israel’s Propaganda Effort
It resembles a chronology of desperation, shifting narratives, and schoolboy howlers. From the outset, the mass lethality of Israeli strikes against Gaza and the collective punishment of its populace needed some justification, however tenuous. If it could be shown, convincingly, that Hamas and its allies had militarised such civilian infrastructure as hospitals, they would become fair game for vengeful air strikes and military assault. Thus, could Israel’s soldiers demonstrate, not merely the animal savagery of Hamas, one indifferent to humanity and suffering, but the virtue of Israel’s own military objectives. The forces of pallid light would again prevail against swarthy evil.
Interest quickly shifted to Al-Shifa Hospital, where the carnage has been horrific. This was said to be the wicked heart of operations, one depicted with exaggerated relish in a video titled “Home to Hamas’ Headquarters, This is an IDF 3D Diagram of the Shifa Hospital”. In an explanatory note, the Israeli Defence Forces state in the crude production that the hospital “is not only the largest hospital in Gaza but it also acts as the main headquarters for Hamas’ terrorist activity.” It goes on to note that, “Terrorism does not belong in a hospital and the IDF will operate to uncover any terrorist infrastructure.”
This bit of amateurish theatrics suitably complemented another effort which made its debut on November 11. In its official Arabic account affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israel posted a selfie video (now deleted) starring a Palestinian nurse indignant at Hamas’ commandeering of the Al-Shifa hospital. A close inspection of the production could only engender doubt: a well laundered lab coat, appropriate positioning of implicating logos, crude simulations of background bombing, the unconvincing accent. “The only thing missing was a degree hanging in the background saying Tel Aviv Upstairs Medical College,” a scornful Marc Owen Jones of The Daily Beast wrote.
Despite these stumbling efforts, support followed from Israel’s staunch backers, the United States. In a press briefing held on November 14, NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications, John Kirby, asserted that “we have information that Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad use some hospitals in the Gaza Strip, including Al-Shifa, and tunnels underneath them to conceal and to support their military operations and to hold hostages.”
The language used by Kirby, however, did not exactly suggest a thriving command and control centre at work, though he would go so far as to claim that the hospital served as a “command-and-control node”. “They have stored weapons there, and they’re prepared to respond to an Israeli operation against that facility.”
When the IDF eventually made its way into the hospital, the initial evidence was not promising. In videos and photos posted by the Israeli forces none revealed tunnels and evidence of a vast command centre. As Aric Toler of the New York Times reported, a mere 10 guns were found at the first count. “The IDF has claimed that the ‘beating heart’ of Hamas’ operations is beneath Shifa. Presumably they’ll release more photos/videos?” In another post, Toler identifies various “grab bags” with “guns and the body armor scattered around, and a laptop next to CD-Rs.”
The IDF just released their first photos/videos from the Shifa Hospital after last night's raid. I count 10 guns. The IDF has claimed that the "beating heart" of Hamas' operations is beneath Shifa.
Presumably they'll release more photos/videos?https://t.co/gZjhI4WW1X pic.twitter.com/NtWcZorZMI— Aric Toler (@AricToler) November 15, 2023
In another round of public relations tripping, two new videos released by both the IDF and the Shin Bet security agency purported to document, as the Times of Israel describes it, a tunnel shaft with “a winding staircase from around three meters deep, continuing down for another seven meters until it reaches part of the tunnel network. The tunnel continues for five meters, before turning to the right and continuing for another 50 meters.” At the end of the tunnel lies an obstructing blast door, equipped with a hole for shooters. “The findings,” an IDF statement claimed with weak conviction, “prove beyond all doubt that buildings in the hospital complex are used as infrastructure for the Hamas terror organization, for terror activity. This is further proof of the cynical use that the Hamas terror organization makes of the residents of the Gaza Strip as a human shield for its murderous terror activities.”
Despite some strained satisfaction in the statement, the picture Israel offers is gnarled and tattered. The IDF production teams continue to struggle in reviving a cadaverous narrative, using their own soldiers as props (because that’s convincing) to describe their first impressions on seeing “a terrorist tunnel”. Just as its cream-of-the-crop elite failed to get wind of the October 7 attack, suggesting an expertise drugged by hubris, Israel’s information strategy seems increasingly suspect, slippery and ever subject to qualification. Rifles, a truck, and a hostage or two, do not a central military command centre make.
It is also worth noting that physicians and doctors working at the hospital – the authentic ones, in any case – have also been perplexed by the allegations that Al-Shifa serves as a throbbing command and control hub for Hamas and its combat operations. Norwegian physician Mads Gilbert, who has worked at the facility for 16 years, told Democracy Now! that there was “no evidence at all” that such claims were true. “If it was a military command centre, I would not work there.” At least we can be sure that Gilbert is not a stage extra.
In this bleak mess, it is worth stressing that even if the hospital proved to be a military facility, humanitarian protections would not mysteriously cease for those patients and staff within it. “Anything that the attacking force can do to allow the humanitarian functions of that hospital to continue,” reasons Adil Haq of Rutgers Law School, “they’re obligated to do, even if there’s some office somewhere in the building where there is a fighter holed up.” But the strategy against Al-Shifa was never humanitarian to begin with, starting with depriving Gaza access to fuel, food and water. The rest is Pallywood.
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Return to home pageEncouraging to see that major American media outlets are starting to smell a rat.
Perhaps we have all tried to follow facts, indications, leads, suggestions, “evidence” in this horrible clash. Murder, violence, charges of war crime abound and seem clear in a broad outlook, as with the horrible stalemate in Ukraine which now attracts little accurate attention. To me, observng and researching over time (70 years) it seems that hope died away from the early 1930’s, with the rise of more forceful zionism and the rise of Hitler.. By 1947 a two state solution seemed impossible of diplomatic achievement. Today and every day we see horror and no hope, assertions and revelations but no guaranteed honesty of intention or action. It is beyond sad that humans cannot be humanity driven, and, deeply entrenched intractable religious superstition, dogma, mythic “law” remain strong.
Imagine if it was Turkey or Lebanon bombing hospitals. The international outrage would be immeasurable.
Quite incredibly Netanyahu has now accused the U.N. of being slow to provide Gaza refugees with food and water and shelter after having driven one million Palestinians from their homes in the North of Gaza and from Gaza City.
Their homes and all infrastructure have now been destroyed by the IDF and Netanyahu complains that the UN are not responding quickly enough as a humanitarian disaster unfolds.
The International Criminal Court has already issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes, will the court now act against Netanyahu or are all aspects of international law riddled with double standards ?
Terry, I’m going to tick the “double standards” box.
And just to provide some perspective…
More people should read the Hamas charter.
* Killing is a responsibility
* Elimination of Israel
* There is no compromise
* Don’t participate in international efforts to resolve war
* Women are subservient and for breeding
This war is a disgrace and a tragedy, there are no winners and no right side
A Commentator, I’m sure you are not incorrect with your list.
It is my understanding that the British killed about 5,000 Palestinians in the early days of the European Jewish migration to Palestine, due to protests against the occupation.
I don’t favour either side in this conflict with the continuing loss of life, and I, like Phil, feel the sadness of human attrition and lessons not learned, over time immemorial.
Lest we Forget.
AC:
The brutalities envisaged, enshrined and promoted in Hamas’ charter do not justify the brutalities enacted upon the Palestinian people by the IDF at the behest of Netanyahu and the militant, expansionist Zionist minority. Nothing can.
I’m willing to provide an alternative view, and that in no way means I am excusing the dreadful excesses of Israel.
I think the author misses a critical point, Hamas had over a month’s warning of an Israel attack.
In this context it’s surprising that there was even a shred of evidence left behind.
It is also a war crime to locate military operations in a hospital.
“I think the author misses a critical point…”
Only the author? How about the (a) commentator?
What is the difference between Zionist exceptionalism and Nazi Nationilism?
Yes, as you know, I’m entirely comfortable with being a wilful contrarian.
I think too many people seek out opinions to reinforce their own, rather than specifically seeking to have their views dissected and debated.
Opinions are more informed and sharper if they are available for critical examination
Don’t like the term “Pallywood”.
Implies the video is Palestinian.
The IDF videos are laughable but by far the most terrifying aspect of them is that they feel they do not need to try any harder to justify their fantasies. A pack of nappies and a baby bottle? In a children’s hospital of all places 😱! Couches and curtains and indoor plants in a waiting room near MRI and CTScanning rooms 😱!
Ehud Barak dumped Israel well in it by exposing the real reason the IDF has been so insistent that there is a centre of operations underground below Al Shifa when he told Christiane Amanpour that Israel built the underground area.
Meanwhile there have been comments from Palestine that they don’t use rooms under hospitals for the very reason of endangerment to fellow Gazans. A concept that doesn’t marry with the “human shield” myth.
Bassem Youssef is well worth watching. On Piers Morgan and many other interviews.
Commentary from an Egyptian who knows the area intimately.
#A Contrarian I think you meant Israel had a full months (along with several others closer to Oct 7th) warning that HAMAS were planning an attack?
It is also a war crime to attack a hospital without valid proof and even then there are caveats, but which is the greater crime?
Using human shields or killing human shields?
A Commentator
I had a look at the HAMAS Charter not because I support their beliefs but because of the reference it supposedly made to women in your comment for which there was no citation :
You say : Women are subservient and for breeding
The HAMAS Charter says :
Article 18:
Woman in the home of the fighting family, whether she is a mother or a sister, plays the most important role in looking after the family, rearing the children and imbuing them with moral values and thoughts derived from Islam. She has to teach them to perform the religious duties in preparation for the role of fighting awaiting them. That is why it is necessary to pay great attention to schools and the curriculum followed in educating Muslim girls, so that they would grow up to be good mothers, aware of their role in the battle of liberation.
https://iranprimer.usip.org/blog/2023/oct/19/doctrine-hamas
Women are subservient and for breeding
Fairly consistent with what Tony Abbott thinks.
And this vile fucking, pardon the naughty word, cancerous growth in Australian politics now seems to be determined to paint Palestinians (by way of association because of Hamas no doubt) as an existential threat to ‘straya.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-24/peter-dutton-attacks-palestinian-visas-catastrophic-outcome/103146978
GL, he’s more concerned about that than his government was about the bushfires or the pandemic.
Priorities. He lacks them.
Reads pretty much like subservience to me (I only have a PDF copy)
Article 18:
The women in the house of the Mujahid,
(and the striving family), be she a mother or
sister, has the most important role in taking
care of the home and raising children of ethi-
cal character and understanding that comes
from Islam, and of training her children to
perform the religious obligations to prepare
them for the Jihadic role that awaits them.
From this perspective it is necessary to take
care of schools and the curricula that educate
the Muslim girl to become a righteous mother
aware of her role in the battle of liberation.
She must have the necessary awareness and
attentiveness in running the home. Being ec-
onomical and far from carefree spending of
the family’s income are requirements to con-
tinue the struggle in the overwhelmingly ar-
duous situation. She should always keep in
mind that money is blood that must not flow
except in veins to sustain the life of children
and elders equally.
Do Jewish women still need the presence of at least 10 males before they are allowed into the segregated section of the synagogue?
In AC’s attempt to provide “perspective” to this discussion, (no, it’s not rude to giggle at that) he has been critical of certain social attitudes contained in the Hamas charter, in particular the role of women, and has concluded that women are subservient.
We should not be surprised by AC’s focus on details at the expense of the big picture — that’s his modus operandi.
And what did his focus on details overlook?
It allowed him to ignore a significant few words in the charter pertaining to the role of women — “…requirements to continue the struggle in the overwhelmingly arduous situation.”
Why is that important?
Because arduous situations always change social standards and expectations.
For example, during WW2 the Western powers became authoritarian socialist bodies similar in many ways to what we see in China today — strict control but permitting capitalism with govt oversight. During the war the Western powers took control of production and distribution.
This happened because of an “overwhelmingly arduous situation.”And we thought little of it.
AC has used the faux impartiality tactic of “no winners and no right side” but the question remains, if that’s the case, why bring this up at all? So this was not AC trying to bring perspective, this was AC trying to diminish the efforts of a suffering people.
4000 years of hocus-pocus. The interminable fog of war. To control the leverage of dominion, power and wealth that is the Levant.
What use defining just who’s up who and who’s paying the rent, when the ever shifting sands forever take their toll?
Why break with tradition? Moderated only by fear and greed, human irrationality and the circus of pathos, guilt and revenge have made their home there.
The world’s sanctimonious sideshows and their peanut galleries ululate and point as if by this, their own participation and transgressions can be obviated or at least disguised.
A breeding ground for ideologies and an old mill for turning everything to dust – mostly bulldust.
Ought be no surprise, the Netanyahu / Likud / IDA / HAMAS dance has taken it all to a new destructive high and performative low.
” it is worth stressing that even if the hospital proved to be a military facility, humanitarian protections would not mysteriously cease for those patients and staff within it.”
“It is also a war crime to locate military operations in a hospital.”
“which is the greater crime? Using human shields or killing human shields?” thats an easy one, two wrongs make it right, ahhhhhh.
“What is the difference between Zionist exceptionalism and Nazi Nationilism?”
Non, both are Cults.
Ironically ,Both sides have the same strategic outcomes……more suffering and more wars down the line. Just different methods at their disposal. Sure call hamas to account, but surely Israeli polititians have to be under the same scutiny? you dont use human sheilds if you think your going to win and you dont kill human shields if you think your going to lose.
@A commentor. If the Hamas charter says “elimination of Israel” how is this any different to what Israel has already done by eliminating Palestine and doing everything they can to steal the remaining land from the Palestinian people in the occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza? The IDF are no better than the Nazis who tried to wipe out the world’s jewish population.
A Commentator, your falling for the spin to believe one side and not the other. The demonisation of palestinians knows no bounds. Only Israel is the one true democracy in the region. The cult calls the tune. Its about time you were mature enough to see through the spin. The palestinians are under no illusions about the israeli end game.
Maybe you can be honest with us and acknowledge what it is.
If your game is to sabotage any chance of peace, by conveniently blaming the other side, what pray tell is your agenda?