Exposing Israel: Uncovering the Lies Fueling Gaza’s Genocide

Hadeel Abu Nassar

Since launching its genocidal war on Gaza on October 7, Israel has continued to propagate misleading lies and false narratives to justify its ongoing genocide against innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip.

Avichai Adraei, the Israeli occupation army’s spokesperson, has played a key role in spreading false claims across social media. These fabricated stories were later debunked, exposing them as tools of Israeli propaganda aimed at enhancing public support for its brutal campaign.

“Lie until you believe it yourself, and others will soon follow”—this appears to be Israel’s strategy to manipulate global opinion, demonize Palestinians and the resistance, and portray them as cold-blooded killers. Each lie paves the way for further genocide in Gaza.

Israel’s relentless efforts to rally international backing, particularly from the U.S. and the West, are built on these false narratives. However, many of these lies have backfired. Here are some of the most egregious:

The Rape of Women

Israeli politicians and Western media widely spread false claims that Israeli women were raped during the October 7 operation. However, thorough investigations concluded that there was no evidence to support these allegations. Multiple testimonies from female settlers confirmed they were not subjected to any sexual assaults.

In January, UN envoy on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten, visited Israel to investigate these claims. Her 23-page report, though extensive, failed to provide any substantial evidence of rape, with the investigative team unable to meet any alleged victims or produce tangible proof.

Beheading of Children

One of the most damaging lies involved claims that children were beheaded on October 7. This allegation went viral, with outlets like The New York Post and Daily Mail reporting that 40 babies were killed, some allegedly beheaded.

However, CNN later reported that an Israeli official admitted the government could not confirm any such claims. Even President Joe Biden, who initially repeated this falsehood, later clarified he had not seen any photos to support it. Hamas has consistently denied these allegations, and no photographic evidence has been produced. Meanwhile, Israel has killed tens of thousands of Palestinian children during its genocidal assault on Gaza.

Hamas Tunnels Under Hospitals

Israel has repeatedly justified its bombing of hospitals by alleging the existence of Hamas tunnels beneath them, despite hospitals being protected under international law. One prominent claim was that a tunnel for Hamas fighters lay beneath the Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Hospital for Rehabilitation and Prosthetics.

Israel released a video showing a hatch at the hospital and claimed it led to a tunnel. However, Al Jazeera’s Sanad digital investigation unit debunked this claim, proving that the hatch was merely a water reservoir for the hospital.

Bombing of Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital

On October 18, Israel bombed Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital, killing over 500 displaced civilians. Israel denied responsibility, instead blaming Islamic Jihad for a ‘misfired rocket’. Yet, subsequent investigations, including one by Channel 4 News, confirmed that Israel was behind the massacre, discrediting Israeli claims.

We Do Not Target Civilians

In his speech to the U.S. Congress, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu falsely claimed that Israel does not target civilians and accused the International Criminal Court of spreading lies. He also claimed that Israel safely evacuates civilians and does not starve them.

However, official figures report over 41,800 civilian deaths, including 17,000 children. Gaza’s Government Media Office revealed that over 710 infants under one year old have been killed since the war began.

We Evacuated Civilians from Dangerous Areas

Netanyahu’s claim that Israel evacuated civilians is misleading. A UN Commission of Inquiry found that evacuation orders were often unclear, leaving civilians without adequate time for safe passage. Israeli forces bombarded evacuation routes, killing displaced civilians who were supposedly heading to safety.

Southern Gaza is Safe

Israeli spokesperson Avichai Adraei declared that southern Gaza, particularly Khan Yunis, was a “safe” zone for displaced civilians. However, Israeli airstrikes targeted these supposed humanitarian zones, killing hundreds in places like Rafah and Khan Yunis.

No Famine in Gaza

Despite Netanyahu’s denials, Israel is responsible for starving the population of Gaza. The UN Commission of Inquiry has confirmed that starvation has been used as a weapon of war, a clear violation of international law.

The World Food Program reported that 96% of Gaza’s population is experiencing severe food insecurity. At least 36 civilians, including children, have died of malnutrition, as food and medical supplies dwindle under Israel’s total siege. UN experts have condemned Israel’s deliberate starvation campaign as an act of genocide.