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The Deadly Nature of Psychological Warfare

(JNS) Irwin J. Mansdorf, PhD - The international media again fell victim to the manipulative use of civilian deaths and unwittingly became a pawn in the hands of terrorists, as shown by the recent false reports of Israeli responsibility for a missile strike on a Gaza hospital. Psychological warfare fans the flames of incitement and reinforces the murderous plans of terrorists, who are given a pass by the media. The rush to judgment after the self-inflicted attack by Gazan terrorists on Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital is but another example of how the rules of reporting are no less important than the much-touted rules of war. Basic journalistic integrity includes verification, and that is precisely what the media outlets involved did not do. While some media sources "protected" themselves by adding "Palestinians claim" or "according to Palestinian sources" after describing the attack, many did not. The first impression provided by the premature reports not only placed blame on Israel, but also contributed to inflaming the darkest passions of those who could easily turn to violence against innocents. In this psychological war, the hostages are journalists. Let's all hope they free themselves sooner rather than later. The writer is a fellow at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs specializing in political psychology and a member of the emergency division of IDF Homefront Command.
2023-10-20 00:00:00
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