A matter of interpretation: blood libel in Melbourne
A well-known Melbourne comedian/TV star and a former Greens mayor of a Melbourne municipality have shocked Zionism Victoria by posting on social media that the IDF is preparing mass executions in Gaza.
In both posts, Israeli soldiers in Gaza appear to have rounded up barely-dressed men with their hands clasped behind their heads.
Comedian Nazeem Hussain and former mayor of Merri-bek Angelica Panopoulos posted the same image with the same caption, saying the men were being prepared for their execution.
Zi0nism Victoria is shocked public figures were spreading this “vicious and baseless blood libel, accusing Israeli troops in Gaza of rounding up Palestinian civilians, taking them to a secluded area and then stripping them to their underwear, before committing a mass execution”.
The scurrilous claim accompanies a photo which, in fact, shows suspected terrorists who had surrendered to the Israel Defence Forces.
In a statement from Zionism Victoria said: “It’s understood their clothes were removed to ensure they weren’t concealing weapons or explosive devices.
Compounding the libel, the image shared by Hussain as an Instagram story was headlined, “Some of these civilians were executed in front of their families. Many have been identified as prominent journalists, doctors and teachers.”
However, Israeli media tell a completely different story with the IDF explaining the men had been detained as terror suspects.
Zionism Victoria executive director Zeddy Lawrence said: “It’s bad enough that such inflammatory lies are being circulated online, without public figures fanning the flames by posting them on their own social media.
It’s little wonder that the Meeri-bek Council passed a virulently anti-Israel motion last month if the then-mayor peddles such malicious mistruths.
As for Hussain, there’s nothing funny about adding fuel to the fire of antisemitism and anti-Zionism that’s soaring in Melbourne at this time.”
The caption for the same photo published by the venerable Times of Israel belies the one posted by Hussain and Panopoulos:
Thanks for exposing the lies by Hussain and Panopoulos! — and I hope the accurate message from TOI can be widely seen. The constant deceit, smears and incitement by the anti-Israel creeps must be countered and condemned.
That is simply shocking. I am working hard in my own way as a Jewish activist to follow and rebut all the media bias and antisemitic mouthings and writings of so many … this momentarily knocks me flat. Social media and its evils and the people who revel in it.