Three Taylor Swift concerts in Austria were abruptly canceled because of an imminent terrorist threat. The main suspect, 19, was reportedly radicalized by online terror propaganda and “thinks it is right to kill infidels,” according to Austrian security services. In 2017, an Islamic extremist killed 22 and injured more than 1,000 attendees at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England.
The incitement, misinformation and biased news coverage “globalize the intifada” that fueled these perpetrators also encouraged attacks against Jews and Israelis.
Jews feel increasingly unsafe
Anti-Israel protests on campus have been around for years but intensified during the spring 2024 semester. There were increasing calls to “globalize the intifada.” Palestinian terrorists launched the Second Intifada against Israel in 2000. The most recognizable attacks were bus bombings. Terrorists also attacked a Sbarro pizza restaurant, killing 16 and injuring 130; some 30 Jews were massacred at a Passover seder in a hotel in Netanya, where 140 more were injured. Students on campus and anti-Israel protesters marching on American streets chanting “globalize the intifada” is a direct call for violence.
“Free Palestine” was the rallying cry made last week by a man as he plunged a knife into the stomach of a young Jewish man on Shabbat in New York City. It came four days after a Belgian author wrote that he wanted to “ram a sharp knife through the throat of every Jew” he met.
Jewish events canceled due to ‘safety’ claims by authorities
The Israeli American Council has been unable to secure a permit after multiple attempts to gather outside of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago while pro-Palestinian groups received the same permits months ago. “The Israel Loves America” rally was denied by the city in June because “sufficient city resources are not available to mitigate the disruption that would be caused by the proposed assembly or to police.” Pro-Israel rallies typically feature peaceful demonstrations, waving American and Israeli flags. Pro-Palestinian rallies typically include calls for violence, burning American and Israeli flags, and unfurling Hamas and Islamic State flags.
“Security concerns” increasingly are cited to explain why Jewish and Israeli individuals and teams are excluded from events. Recently, a Belgian city removed Israeli teen athletes from an international Frisbee tournament hours before they were set to compete because organizers caved to a “fear of pro-Palestinian demonstrations.”
The International Ice Hockey Federation banned all Israeli hockey teams from competing because it could not guarantee the “safety and security of all people” before reversing its decision in January. A Tel Aviv rugby team was removed from a tournament in South Africa by organizers who stated: “We would have to put a major security plan in place,” despite assertions that “should never divide because its purpose is to bring people together.”
Boycotts against Jewish and Israel-linked groups continue to grow. A Detroit Jewish bagel shop was forced to close after its staff walked out because of its new “Zionist” owner. One worker stated that “Judaism is beautiful, but zionism [sic] is deeply antisemitic,” and another referred to the owner’s “colonizing” of the area, using an anti-Israel term to describe alleged gentrification. American singer Matisyahu was forced to cancel several shows earlier this year supposedly over “security concerns” that were actually caused by staff walkouts and boycotts.
Misinformation exacerbated by media bias leads to consequences
Misinformation and false narratives spread virally after an Israeli Air Force strike on two Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad command centers. The Iranian-backed terror groups intentionally located their military facilities inside a mosque in a school complex.
Hamas authorities immediately stated that at least 93 civilians were killed. Journalists rushed to disseminate these unverified claims that were then used by international leaders to condemn Israel.
The Israeli Defense Forces used three “precision munitions” that left most of the school grounds standing. The IDF verified and named 31 of those killed who belonged to Hamas and PIJ, which used the school grounds, which were not in session at the time, as their command center. International humanitarian law prevents militaries from using civilian infrastructure for attacks. Hamas has a documented history of using homes, schools, mosques, hospitals, humanitarian zones and tunnels located under neighborhoods for launching rockets, storing weapons and executing attacks. This exploitation by Hamas renders these facilities “lawful military targets.”
Hamas reported on Oct. 17 that Israel bombed the Al-Ahil Hospital in Gaza, killing 500 Palestinian civilians. Journalists immediately reported on this story without questioning how Hamas was able to accurately count the dead on such short notice without any investigation. World leaders used this claim to immediately condemn Israel. A subsequent probe confirmed that an errant Palestinian Islamic Jihad rocket struck a parking lot next to the hospital. The number of fatalities is unknown but is thought to be about 50.
After his arrest, Tarek Abu Shaluf, spokesman for the terror group PIJ, explained how terror groups exploit hospitals: “To erase this story, the Islamic Jihad made some moves, it made up a story that the rocket belonged to Israel and that the target was the hospital.”
John Spencer, chair of Urban Warfare Studies at the U.S. Military Academy West Point: “I have never seen a war where casualty numbers can be known immediately. Not in hours, not in minutes. Also, never seen a war where mainstream media will immediately run numbers from local sources (aka Hamas) while saying they can’t verify the military statements, despite the repeated examples of local sources (Hamas) providing wild numbers (Al-Ahi) or claiming no combatants were killed (hostage rescue).”
In their own words: ‘We will sacrifice our children’
Hamas needs “the blood of the children, the women, the elderly—we need this blood so it will ignite inside us the spirit of the revolution,” as slain Hamas “political” leader Ismail Haniyeh had justified Palestinian civilian casualties. He was succeeded by Oct. 7 mastermind Yahya Sinwar. Palestinian Authority leader and head of the Palestine Olympic Committee Jibril Rajoub stressed on Oct. 7, 2020, that ”regarding the resistance, we will sacrifice our children.” He led the call to boycott Israeli Olympians.
Points to consider:
- ‘Globalize the intifada’ is a call for violent attacks around the world, not only against Jews.
This phrase is a dangerous declaration to spread violence against all citizens, not a call for peaceful resistance. Anti-Israel leaders and activists who lead these chants, including “by any means necessary,” justify terrorism against individuals in their everyday lives. From Taylor Swift fans in England and Austria to Jewish students on American campuses, everyone should feel safe when attending events, studying in school or commuting to work. Violent rhetoric encourages conflict, urging attacks on innocent people far beyond the borders of any disputes.
- Journalists should verify facts and not blindly trust Hamas’s claims.
Iran-backed Hamas is a designated terrorist organization by many countries, with a history of using propaganda and misinformation to advance its agenda. Its statements are designed to manipulate public perception, incite violence and undermine peace. Journalists have a responsibility for scrutinizing sources, cross-referencing facts and vetting information before publication. Trusting Hamas narratives leads to biased reporting and a distorted understanding of the conflict. In a field where accuracy is paramount, reporters must prioritize credible sources and avoid falling into the trap of spreading unverified or deliberately misleading information.
- World leaders must condemn Hamas for its tactics.
The Israeli military killed at least 31 terrorists operating from a complex previously used as a school. Hamas immediately claimed more than 90 dead civilians. Leaders of countries, international groups and human rights organizations immediately reacted to news reports by vilifying Israel. Again, they did not condemn Hamas terrorists for using a former school as a terror base. They did not condemn Hamas for locating terrorists, rocket launchers and weapons in or near schools, mosques, hospitals and humanitarian zones. They did not call on Hamas to locate its bases away from homes and for its members to wear uniforms like most of the world’s militaries.
- Hamas sacrifices its citizens to gain public sympathy.
Many journalists and international leaders falsely portray Israelis as the aggressors against Hamas. The failure to provide an accurate view not only misinforms the public but also emboldens extremists and terrorists. This perception is used to justify violent attacks against Jews in America and around the world. Also, Hamas intentionally locates its fighters in civilian locations because while Israel is legally justified in attacking these terror hubs, the terror groups know it will provoke international condemnation against Israel to further its agenda. Hamas willingly sacrifices its own civilians on the altar of global public opinion because it knows that it will not be held accountable. Failing to condemn Hamas for its actions reinforces its behavior.
