The Hamas Media Machine Strikes Again

Much attention has been given to the recently released, Hamas-made animated video, which has been reposted on Youtube by scores of different users. Many journalists have opined and called it part psychological warfare, part PR tool, but mostly a thinly veiled attempt to threaten the Israeli public with the killing of Gilad Shalit.


But to me the video showed a kind of lonely desperation on the part of Hamas to make a deal. Perhaps they can identify with the sad, frail Noam Shalit of the future walking the streets alone. One of the main reasons Israel is refusing the deal is because they are aware that the deal would empower Hamas politically in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as increase their international legitimacy. But I think this video should be interpreted by Israel as a sign of weakness on the part of Hamas, and now might actually be a good time for Israel to re-negotiate.


The video actually reminded me of the animated cartoons I used to watch as a kid. When an older version of Noam Shalit, Gilad's father, is walking alone in the streets of some generic Israeli city from the future, he finds a newspaper (Daily Globe?) with his son next to Ron Arad, the presumed dead Israeli airman. Then he goes to Erez crossing, the main checkpoint between Israel and Gaza, and his son, predictably, comes back in a coffin.


When the Qassam Martyrs Brigade logo came down with a thud sound effect, I was expecting to hear the sardonic laughter of some bearded Hamas operative (Green Lantern?).


I'm not trying to make a value judgment on who the real villain is in all this, since no side has a monopoly on good or evil in this conflict. (Let’s not get into political banter, please). If the video wasn’t about such a sad topic, it would be funny. I really think the Hamas filmmakers should apply to DC Comics to make the next Superman live action short.


"Dear Superman (IDF Air Force), I have Lois Lane (Gilad Shalit) in my possession and this is how she will end up if you don't give me what I want." (Insert sardonic villain laugh here).
Sincerely, Qassam Martyrs Brigade (Lex Luthor)

Of course, I am not insensitive to the horrible agony these families must be going through. This is not some comic book, but real life. As I type these words a free man, a young man is languishing away his formative years, most likely in an underground cell in Gaza without basic human rights.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, some of whom should be presumed innocent, are being held in Israeli prison without a fair trial.


Isn’t the holy land grand?


In a very different video, the real Noam Shalit makes a plea to the world on Israel's Independence Day on behalf of his son.


This is an extremely low budget production compared to Hamas' video. The video is way too long, in choppy English, and is missing a clear message. It is also not directed at Israelis, as it probably should be, but at the entire world. Shouldn't Noam's goal be to pressure Israelis into making Gilad Shalit a campaign issue in the next election? Or is this evidence that Noam has given up on the Israeli public that voted in a right leaning government?


Not sure whether any of these media antics will have any real influence on the decision makers who get to pull the strings controlling real human lives.