Responsible Statecraft, an American publication, reports that the Israeli government pays approximately $7,000 per post to prominent international figures to advance Israel’s narrative and challenge that of the Hamas movement.
The initiative also seeks to mitigate global backlash against Israel’s actions in Gaza.
According to the report, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed a $900,000 contract with the German company Havas Media Group and allocated a dedicated budget to engage influential social media personalities. From June 14 to November 18, 2024, these figures were encouraged to produce content supporting Israel and countering Palestinian perspectives, thereby reinforcing Israel’s narrative globally.
Documents released by WikiLeaks this week reveal that half of the funds were designated for recruiting and training prominent American figures to produce pro-Israel content. The agreement stipulated that these influencers work directly with Israeli partners in developing promotional messages.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the existence of such a network during a recent meeting with American activists. In a video previously shared by Voice of Hindukush, he emphasized the importance of reshaping global perceptions of Israel, noting that engaging high-profile personalities was essential to achieving this goal.
Reports indicate that Israel initially allocated millions for this initiative, and in late 2024, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar approved a twentyfold increase, raising the total budget to $150 million.
Israel also pays approximately $1.5 million per month to American digital consultant Brad Parscale to produce pro-Israel content. Parscale, former head of Donald Trump’s campaign, runs large-scale AI-driven advertising campaigns, generating and distributing thousands of promotional messages.
Since launching its offensive in Gaza in October 2023, widely described as a genocide, Israel has faced growing global political and economic isolation. In response, it has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into social media campaigns, hiring internationally recognized personalities to promote its narrative and protect its global image.