South Africa accused Israel of genocide at the United Nations’ International Court of Justice (ICJ) this week, arguing abuses against Palestinians in Gaza violated the Genocide Convention. South Africa laid out its allegations Thursday, asking the court to order an immediate halt to Israel’s military operations. 

 

Public opinion on social media is split over the legitimacy of the trial. South Africa has faced criticism over its accusations, with some users claiming it is a blood libel defamation case against Israel aimed at supporting Hamas rather than pursuing justice, and that it is not backed by concrete evidence. Some also argue that Hamas, not Israel, should be on trial. Pro-Palestine users, conversely, have mobilized around the case to help convince the wider public that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Many users and pro-Palestine organizations have thanked South Africa on social media for their actions in support of the Palestinian people. 

Following Israel’s remarks on Friday, pro-Palestinian activists gathered outside The Hague in protest of Israel’s testimony, shouting in support of an intifada. Pro-Israel users applauded Israel’s efforts to counter South Africa’s claims of genocide. Some brought up how Germany released a statement in support of Israel, which is especially symbolic due to Germany’s role in the Holocaust.

Antisemitic conspiracy theories of blood libel spread on social media this week after the discovery of an underground tunnel under the Chabad-Lubavitch Headquarters in Brooklyn. Members of the Hasidic community staged a protest in support of keeping the tunnel after police in New York tried to fill it with cement, and violence broke out between the two groups. 

 

Theorists have shared photos of a “soiled” mattress found in the tunnel, claiming it as evidence that Jews are conducting sex trafficking operations and performing satanic rituals underground. Some users spread conspiracies that there is a greater system of underground tunnels dug by Jews to exert their alleged control over New York City, using these passages to commit crimes and hide from law enforcement. 

 

Anti-Israel accounts also used the news of the tunnel to further promote antisemitism tied to the Israel-Hamas war. One user wrote on X, “Look where the IDF found the Secret Pedo Tunnel under a Jewish synagogue in New York.” Another person wrote, “Hamas are NOT rapists but IDF and Jews certainly are.”

Some users falsely accused the ADL of considering images of cement trucks as a “symbol of hate.” The accusation originated from a fabricated image of the ADL’s website and was used to attack the ADL for what they deemed frivolous antisemitic symbols and playing the “victim card.”

Sunday marked three months since the Hamas terrorist attack, which killed 1,200 Israelis and led to the kidnapping of 240 people into the Gaza Strip. Many users took to social media to remember the Israeli victims and bring awareness to the remaining 136 hostages still trapped in Gaza. The Daily Mail profiled four young women being held hostage by Hamas- Liri Albag, Karina Ariev, Daniela Gilboa and Agam Berger- comparing photos of them before their capture and now. The pictures quickly spread on social media as users shared their stories.

This weekend will mark 100 days since the start of the war, and 100 days of captivity for the hostages. Activists have urged others on social media to activate around the day to spread awareness and keep calling for the hostages to be returned. In Israel, companies are gearing up for a nationwide strike in solidarity with the hostages and their families, who will be commemorating the day at a 24 hour rally in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv.

 

The Anti-Defamation League recorded a 360% increase in antisemitism in the three months since the Israel-Hamas conflict began, compared to the same period the year before. The number of incidents during the three-month period is larger than those committed in most full calendar years during the past decade. Other key findings included:

 

 

Members of the varsity women’s basketball team from Roosevelt High School in Yonkers, N.Y. shouted antisemitic slurs at the opposing team from The Leffell School, a Jewish school, at a game last Thursday. Several Roosevelt team members played aggressively against their opponents while shouting “Free Palestine” and “I support Hamas, you f*****g Jew.” The Leffell coach decided to end the game during the first quarter after several players sustained injuries. One player from Leffell described her experience in an op-ed and expressed gratitude to her school for supporting its Jewish players. The Roosevelt coach was fired and several players were dismissed from the team.

Conversations online express disgust at the young students’ antisemitic behavior, with a few users calling for further punishment of the perpetrators.

 

 

Anti-Israel activists targeted Israeli actress Gal Gadot this week after news broke that she was offered the role of Barbie in last year’s film. Many anti-Israel social media users attacked her for being an outspoken Zionist, calling her a “Zionist ghoul” and a “genocidal monster” who they claim did not deserve to be considered for the role. Several users brought up how comedian Amy Schumer was also a candidate for the role, and believed the movie’s plot would have secretly been “Zionist propaganda” if either actress were cast.

Anti-Israel Gen Z social media users also targeted actor Noah Schnapp this week in light of the Stranger Things season five production announcement. Many users are calling for a boycott of the television series because Schnapp has consistently supported Israel, including promoting stickers with the text “Hamas is ISIS” and “Zionism is Sexy” in November. Others point out how his co-stars and the show’s co-creators also support Israel, with anti-Israel fans citing these as reasons to boycott the show when season five is released.

 

 

 

 

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