Experts warn of ‘hasbara’ and disinformation in digital battle over Palestine

Researchers, activists and digital rights experts on Tuesday warned of coordinated propaganda and disinformation efforts shaping global narratives on Palestine during a webinar hosted by The Global Alliance for Palestine.

The event, titled “Countering Israel’s 2026 Hasbara Industry,” focused on what speakers described as organised digital messaging strategies and Israeli state-backed public disinformation campaigns. 

Israel’s national public diplomacy directorate, known by its Hebrew name Hasbara, oversees Israeli propaganda and has been sued by companies and contractors who provided their services in the first months of Israel’s genocide in Gaza. 

To push propaganda following the genocide in Gaza, Israel used secret PR campaigns and hired corporate firms to manage paid influencer networks under a project code-named the “Esther Project”. 

Since October 2023, Israel's Hasbara efforts have also been conducted by the foreign ministry and the diaspora ministry, which have both dedicated huge sums of money to distribute Israeli propaganda to shape public opinion, denying allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. 

In the webinar, which took place on 7 April, panellists said Israel's efforts increasingly rely on digital tools, targeted advertising and artificial intelligence to influence public opinion.

Anas Ambri of The New Arab Investigative Unit presented findings on online ad campaigns and transparency mechanisms, pointing to what he described as limited disclosure around Israel's government-linked promotions.

He highlighted how targeted ads and “mysterious” campaigns can shape narratives across platforms.

Tariq Kenney-Shawa of Al-Shabaka highlighted the role of open-source intelligence in documenting events and countering disinformation. He said such methods have been used to verify incidents and challenge competing claims.

Shawa spoke about how open source intelligence helped uncover mass graves in Gaza and exposed Israel's disinformation campaigns on social media. 

Hala Hanina, a Gaza-born political activist and doctoral researcher in the United Kingdom, discussed media coverage patterns during the war.

She argued that disinformation deployed by Israeli authorities includes denial of attacks, shifting blame and framing narratives in ways that obscure civilian impact.

Her presentation examined how such messaging spreads across traditional and digital media to derail narratives and confuse people who seek accountability. 

Another panellist, Lujane, focused on artificial intelligence and digital influence, outlining how content ecosystems can shape AI-generated outputs and reinforce Israeli narratives.

She said funding networks and amplification strategies play a key role in how information reaches audiences.

Digital rights advocate Nadim Nashif raised concerns about platform governance, citing past incidents in which Palestinian content was removed or restricted. He said algorithmic moderation and platform policies can contribute to what he described as unequal visibility.

Miriyam Aouragh, a professor at the University of Westminster, said the digital sphere has also enabled counter-narratives, with Palestinian voices gaining wider reach.

She pointed to growing dissent among some technology workers and increased scrutiny of platform practices.

Organisers said the webinar aimed to equip participants with analytical tools to understand how information is produced and circulated during conflict.

They said addressing disinformation and improving media literacy will be key as digital platforms continue to shape global perceptions of the issue.