Hamas is presenting Palestinians with a false picture of success in its ongoing attacks against Israel. On Hamas TV News, the host explained to viewers that the Israeli media "imposes blackouts on every place rockets fall, on every loss of human life and all damage to property." He charged that "the Zionist media" is only telling part of the truth:
"We are certain that the rockets are hitting their targets with precision and that these rockets are causing deaths and casualties."
[Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas), July 9, 2014]
In fact, Hamas has launched hundreds rockets and missiles at Israeli civilian targets over all of Israel and no Israelis have been killed. Most missiles have either fallen in unpopulated areas or been intercepted by Israel's missile defense system, the Iron Dome, and Israeli civilians are following government instructions and running for safety during attacks.
Hamas addressed a similar message to Israelis in Hebrew as part of its psychological warfare campaign, stating that the Iron Dome is "a failed project":
"Zionists! The Iron Dome doesn't protect you! It's a failed project. Ask Mordechai Shefer (i.e., Israeli scientist who opposed the Iron Dome air defense system). Ask those hiding in shelters."
[Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas), July 10, 2014]
Palestinian Media Watch has documented similar Hamas videos addressing Israelis in Hebrew and threatening to renew suicide bombings. In a song, Hamas encouraged bombing Tel Aviv, and Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement likewise promised that "death will reach you from the south to the north."
The following is the complete transcript of the Hamas propaganda videos:
Hamas propaganda in Hebrew: "Zionists, the Iron Dome doesn't protect you! It's a failed project. Ask Mordechai Shefer (i.e., Israeli scientist who opposed the Iron Dome air defense system). Ask those hiding in shelters."
[Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas), July 10, 2014]
Hamas TV host: "The enemy conceals every place rockets fall, every loss of human life and all damage to property. It seems that what is reaching us from the Zionist media here and there and what is leaked is just a small portion. [The enemy] knows that in this way, it may affect us and the resistance psychologically, but we are certain that the rockets are hitting their targets with precision, and that these rockets are causing deaths and casualties among the occupation soldiers as well, not only among the settlers - and this hurts the Zionist enemy."
[Al-Aqsa TV (Hamas), July 9, 2014]
