Crisis Communication : Information Warfare
Crisis Communication : Information Warfare
Unraveling Communication Failures in Israel-Palestine Conflict
War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other's children." - Jimmy Carter
The Israel and Hamas conflict has not only unfolded on the battleground but has also played out on the intricate stage of communication, especially within the realms of social media and digital platforms. International support for Israel's efforts to neutralize the perceived terrorist threat grew as a result of the violence that Hamas instigated against Israel. Our President, in his characteristic foreign affairs gaffe, swiftly conveyed solidarity with Israel. (Settling in high office away from personal beliefs is quite a challenge for many in positions of authority.)
The narrative swiftly evolved in a matter of days as Israel grappled with freeing kidnapped communities. Social media spaces became inundated with questions about Israel's response strategy and accusations of oversight regarding the incursion. Speculations about a possible stand-down order circulated, with podcast pundits across various networks expressing concerns. The unified support for Israel began to fragment, giving rise to alternative conversations on platforms such as TikTok, LinkedIn, and private Telegram channels.
In a revealing interview, Antony Blinken expressed dismay at the diverse and conflicting images circulating on screens. This showed a characteristic view of how the images had become prevalent, even at the level of global leaders. At a personal level, I kept asking myself at what point civilians were becoming targets of war. One major highlight of the conflict was the USA's President Joe Biden’s physical visit to Israel. We can only guess the reasons but as it has been reported earlier, a fake African Union chair has been engaging in deceptive online meetings with European leaders. Leading to speculation that trust in online meetups and even by the owners of the technology could not be trusted any more in this day and age of huge technological advancement.
The rapid transformation of global opinion and the realization that public sentiment plays a significant role underscore the critical need for robust risk and crisis communication plans in the new AI-digital age. Video generation that looks real takes only a matter of seconds, not days, as it used to happen a few months ago. The videos disseminated by various parties during the conflict vividly showcase the impact of public opinion in real-time. While it remains uncertain whether Hamas meticulously orchestrated this shift, Israel initially faltered and underestimated the role of well-crafted crisis and risk communication strategies. Only in the last few weeks have we seen Israel Mobilize Global Media outlets on the happenings in Gaza as well as set out a digital influencer player set of videos of the real issues in Gaza and the stories of the people of Palestine that we have seen the public outcry die down.
Let’s answer a few critical questions that many may ask: Can we describe the Israel-Palestine conflict in simple terms? Why is the Israel-Hamas war happening? It is, in my opinion, not easy to simplify the conflict. History, however, plays a key role in answering the question of why the conflict has persisted over centuries. History also seeks to educate us on the issues that are happening today. Read: Why is there an Israel Palestine Conflict
What is the main reason for the Israel-Palestine conflict?
Unresolved historical happenings could be a simple answer.
Yet its not as easy as it sounds. Notable, however, in the rise of Zionism and the British Mandate (20th century):Previous rebellions by the Jews by the Romans and Ottomans, plus a series of crusaders taking over the land, had led to the displacement of the Jewish population to modern-day Europe, where many lived in ghettos. This and many other factors are a key pointer to what we have today. Zionism, a movement that, in time, advocated for a Jewish homeland, is also a key player in the development of the conflict as we have it today. After World War I, the League of Nations granted Britain the mandate to administer Palestine. The movement and its key role negotiated for the land of the growing Jewish population. Kenya was the first stop; however, as a British settlement, the local white population sent out a protest as to why that should not happen. The movement then decided to settle on the historical land as written in scripture and other historical books, leading to modern-day Israel. At the time, it was critical to point out that many promises and mistakes had been made. One key issue was the unclear and mismanaged resettlement of already existing populations. As Jewish immigration increased, there were increased tensions with Arab residents. The Arab population also sought self-determination and opposed the growing Jewish presence.... Read more here
In order to get to the wins and losses of information warfare, what must we do?
Some critical aspects have come out over time
The current landscape demands a critical approach to information warfare. How organizations, brands, and communities engage with information sharing and planning now will define their future success.
Communication channels are dynamic. Platforms like Reels and TikTok now play a pivotal role in shaping public discourse. Tomorrow we will have new platforms; how fast we evolve as people and as organizations will determine success. Communication strategies must evolve alongside these trends for maximum impact.
Proactive communication during crises is paramount. A recent client case study demonstrated the effectiveness of a factual press release in mitigating negativity, even when personal attacks followed. This highlights the importance of transparency and data-driven responses. Dont leave it to Sundry; it may never die out
Learning from communication missteps is essential for organizational growth. Analyzing past failures and adapting future approaches fosters a culture of continuous improvement. I hope Israel has learned the hard lessons. Digital war fare cannot be left to a few.
The recent reports of internal conflict at the World Food Programme on the handling of the conflict raise questions about the role of communication in international organizations. While systemic issues may exist, fostering open communication channels managed by communication professionals could be key to mitigating reputational damage and ensuring mission alignment. Let all our leaders have their pages run by organizational communication professionals. Cindy McCain may have learned the hard way.
Oslo Accord
Back to the Israel-Palestine Conflict, its notable that, in this complex backdrop, it's crucial to revisit the failures of the Oslo Accords and the persistent challenges in achieving lasting peace in the region. Despite concerted efforts to broker peace deals, the deep-rooted animosities and complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have proven resistant to resolution. The ongoing conflict brings to the forefront the limitations of historical peace initiatives and the need for innovative, inclusive, and comprehensive approaches.
As Israel attempts to regain narrative control, the support it receives from the USA provides a buffer. In a more typical scenario, the prevailing public opinion might have severely undermined their position. The IDF's efforts to release videos to counteract negative perceptions seem confined to channels with limited viewership. To reach a broader audience and influence global opinion, engaging with international outlets like CNN, ABC News, Al Jazeera, RT, and other Arabic channels is imperative but not enough. Looking at communicating with the public at critical levels of influence. Despite showcasing tunnels beneath schools and hospitals, the delayed response by Israel to digital communication underscores the critical importance of proactive crisis and risk communication planning on a global scale. One thing I have learned over my career is that their is quite a discomfort and oversight in having the digital channels pervade other channels. Not once have we had a debate with partners on taking out beyond the comfort zone. As organizations and people of influence, our work is to drive towards the expected KPIs. In war, there would be operational KPIs yet in the new digital age, public opinion as a KPI seems as critical as winning a war.
The Israel-Hamas conflict not only reflects the complexities of the current geopolitical landscape but also sheds light on the persistent challenges to achieving lasting peace. The failures of past peace initiatives, compounded by the influence of digital communication, emphasize the need for an elaborate, adaptive, and comprehensive approach to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Explore diverse viewpoints on the conflict through international news channels:
Watch the video: Oslo Accord
Our hope is that peace prevails and the truth stands.
Peace to all.
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"War does not determine who is right, only who is left." Bertrand Russell
"In war, truth is the first casualty." - Aeschylus
"War is what happens when language fails." Margaret Atwood
"War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always evil, never good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other's children." Jimmy Carter
"Older men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die." Herbert Hoover
"War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength." George Orwell
"War is an ugly thing but not the ugliest of things; the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feelings that thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse." John Stuart Mill
"War is too important to be left to politicians." Georges Clemenceau
"War: a massacre of people who don't know each other for the profit of people who know each other but don't massacre each other." Paul Valéry
"War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today." John F. Kennedy