How Israel uses pamphlets as psychological warfare in Gaza

Not content with killing nearly 30,000 Palestinians, displacing 80% of the population, and destroying at least 50% of Gaza's infrastructure, Israel has deployed various forms of psychological warfare to intimidate Palestinians across the besieged Gaza Strip. 

Equipped with speakers, Israeli drones broadcast propaganda against Palestinian factions. Aircraft drop leaflets demanding Palestinians flee their homes. Women receive menacing messages from unknown Israeli numbers. Booby traps are used to lure in starving Gazans as they wait for aid, exploiting food shortages and rations. 

"Every time a leaflet is dropped, it feels like we'll be displaced again. The mere mention of the word 'leaflet' now evokes intense emotional turmoil"

Israel's new approach

Now, nearly five months into Israel's genocidal assault on Gaza, Israel has adopted a new approach to psychological warfare: starting a newspaper. The newspaper, Alwaq'a— Arabic for reality — aims to incite distrust toward officials in Gaza and entice civilians to become spies for Israel.

The newspaper's first issue was dropped by drones in Deir Al-Balah in central Gaza. The second issue was dropped in Rafah city in the south of Gaza. Each issue of Alwaq'a featured a WhatsApp-linked number and a Telegram channel called 'NewGaza24'.

30-year-old Asmaa told The New Arab about how she received her copy in Deir Al-Balah. "On February 3, around 8 am, Israeli drones dropped leaflets with dead children and destroyed buildings on the front cover. On the top left of the newspaper read 'Issue 1'. I assume there will be more," the displaced mother explained. "For Israel, it seems that killing and devastation is insufficient, they've adopted a new strategy to instil fear within us."

Four days earlier, Asmaa welcomed her first child, a baby girl, into the world. But Asmaa had little time to celebrate. She quickly found herself grappling with emotional distress as she struggled to provide clothing, milk, and diapers for her newborn, and later struggled with breastfeeding due to a lack of nutrition. 

"My pregnancy was at risk. The thought of losing my baby haunted me at night. Giving birth amid the chaos of war is emotionally draining and the constant barrage of newspapers, pamphlets and bombs only add to the burden," Asmaa told The New Arab.

"Israel seems to be obsessed with psychological warfare. Honestly, they don't need to — we're already emotionally drained. On December 29, they [Israel] killed eight members of my family, including my uncle and his wife and children. We have nothing left to cry over. Their psychological warfare doesn't matter anymore."

Faress, a voluntary nurse in Rafah, also shared her experience of pamphlet warfare with The New Arab. "During the first few weeks of Israel's assault, drones began dropping leaflets demanding us to flee from our homes. Every time a leaflet is dropped, it feels like we'll be displaced again. The mere mention of the word 'leaflet' now evokes intense emotional turmoil. We dread the possibility of fleeing again."

Once the second issue of Alwaq'a was dropped, the newspaper quickly became the talk of Rafah. "Everyone talks about them. I hear patients analyse the content and fear what's next to come. 'Is it a threat, an attempt to cause unrest, or act as a prelude to an attack', they say. Whenever a leaflet is dropped, I hear children cry out 'They're invading Rafah' echoing across the camps."

Nisreen, a 49-year-old mother of six displaced in Khan Younis, also attacked Israel for "playing dirty" with women's emotions. She explained to The New Arab that Israel targets vulnerable women, already neglected by the international community and "those who called themselves feminists," she added.

"On February 20, I received a message on my phone. The message was written in Arabic and read: 'Women represent not half of society, but its entirety. To the courageous women of Gaza: You are heroic, mujahidat women capable of halting the devastation and turmoil in Gaza. Your strength can secure the future for the children of Gaza. Please assist us in gathering any information regarding the hostages and imprisoned soldiers. Reach out to us at 92756833 733 via call or message on WhatsApp or Telegram.'"

"They even gave us a number for us to speak to them," Nisreen went on to say. "This is just a waste of resources and energy. Women should not be involved in war. Israel has already killed more than 8000 women since beginning their assault. How do they expect us to believe them? They have no respect for women or children. 

"Israel needs to change its character and drop its mask. It's not doing a good job," Nisreen concluded.

Walaa Sabah is a freelance journalist and community outreach and partnership officer at wearenotnumbers.org