1/18/24 Max Blumenthal on the Lies Getting Gazans and Israeli Hostages Killed
Jan 20, 2024
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Max Blumenthal, journalist and author, discusses his recent reporting about Gaza, including disputed New York Times reports and evidence of friendly fire. He addresses demonization as an antisemitic conspiracy theorist and acknowledges Israel-friendly outlets admitting he was right.
The Israeli government launched a propaganda campaign accusing Hamas of sexual violence without providing any evidence or testimonies, serving to prolong the war and deny Hamas political leverage.
The Israeli military enacted the Hannibal procedure, violating firing regulations and leading to the destruction of vehicles containing Israelis, exposing the government's disregard for its own citizens and manipulation of public perception.
Deep dives
Debunking Propaganda and False Claims about Sexual Violence in Gaza
In this podcast episode, Max Blumenthal discusses the propaganda campaign launched by the Israeli government, aiming to accuse Hamas of using systematic sexual violence. Blumenthal exposes the lack of evidence and testimonies supporting these claims and highlights the Israeli government's failure to provide any survivors or victims. He also criticizes the New York Times and other media outlets for promoting this false narrative without conducting proper investigations. Blumenthal emphasizes that these unfounded accusations serve to prolong the war, maintain public support for Israeli military actions, and deny Hamas any political leverage to negotiate a ceasefire or prisoner exchange.
The Hannibal Procedure and Friendly Fire Killings
Blumenthal exposes the Hannibal procedure, a military protocol enacted during the conflict in Gaza to prevent Israelis from returning to Gaza and being used as bargaining chips for negotiations. He discusses the abandonment of firing regulations, enabling the firing on vehicles containing Israelis, resulting in the destruction of approximately 70 cars with their occupants killed inside. Blumenthal also reveals the Israeli military's use of poison gas, which led to the death of three Israeli soldiers who were taken captive. This scandal highlights the Israeli government's disregard for the lives of its own citizens and the manipulation of public perception to maintain the ongoing war.
War Crimes and Field Massacres
Blumenthal exposes the Israeli military's heinous war crimes during the conflict in Gaza, including field massacres and deliberate attacks on civilians. He discusses incidents such as the killing of civilians in their homes and the shelling of Israeli captives attempting to escape. Blumenthal highlights the complicity of Western media outlets in perpetuating the Israeli military's narrative by spreading fabricated stories and disregarding the evidence of Israeli atrocities. He emphasizes the need for independent investigations and a ceasefire to prevent further loss of life.
The Desperate Situation of Hostages in Gaza
Blumenthal discusses the plight of the Israeli hostages held in Gaza and the Israeli government's refusal to negotiate for their release. He highlights the dire conditions these hostages face, as well as the intentional killings by the Israeli military to deny Hamas any political leverage. Blumenthal emphasizes the urgent need for a ceasefire as the only way to secure the safe return of the hostages. He criticizes the media for prioritizing sensationalistic and false narratives over the truth and calls for an end to the war.
Max Blumenthal returns to the show to talk about some of his recent reporting about Gaza. They first discuss some New York Times reports about October 7th that are not only completely free of evidence but are even disputed by the victims being featured. They then talk about some of the evidence of friendly fire. Blumenthal has been reporting on Israelis killed by the IDF on October 7th and later while being held hostage in Gaza. He has been demonized as an antisemitic conspiracy theorist, but now many Israel-friendly Western outlets admit he was right.
Discussed on the show:
“Screams without proof: questions for NYT about shoddy ‘Hamas mass rape’ report” (The Grayzone)
“Israeli army gassed my son ‘like Auschwitz,’ mother of slain Israeli soldier says” (The Grayzone)