The Israeli Defense Forces are not just conducting a military operation in the Gaza strip, but also a full-on social media operation.
Noah Shachtman finds this unusual:
Once “Operation Pillar of Defense” began, the IDF put up a Facebook page, a Flickr feed, and, of course, a stream of Twitter taunts — all relying on the same white-on-red English-language graphics. “Ahmed Jabari: Eliminated,” reads a tweet from 2:21 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday.
This is a very different way of waging the war of opinion online. When an American drone strikes a suspected militant in Afghanistan, that footage is rarely made public — and, if so, only months after the fact. After the raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound, White House and Pentagon aides did start leaking details like mad. But the only live tweets from the operation were from a bystander in Abbottabad who heard the helicopters landing. And the pictures of bin Laden’s corpse were purposely kept from the public.
Andrew Sullivan compiled the following highlights from the IDF Twitter feed:
Playing war games on Call of Duty last night? Over 1 million Israelis are still under REAL fire#BlackOps2
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) November 13, 2012
Yesterday, IDF facilitated transfer of 8,454 tons of goods to Gaza. On Monday, border crossing was closed due to heavy rocket fire in area.
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) November 14, 2012
The IDF has begun a widespread campaign on terror sites & operatives in the #Gaza Strip, chief among them #Hamas & Islamic Jihad targets.
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) November 14, 2012
The IDF has embarked on Operation Pillar of Defense.
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) November 14, 2012
The IDF has embarked on an operation against Hamas, an Iranian proxy responsible for terror attacks on Israel. #Iran #Gaza
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) November 14, 2012
More than 12,000 rockets hit Israel in the past 12 years. RT if you think #Israel has the right to defend itself. twitter.com/IDFSpokesperso…
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) November 14, 2012
@idfspokesperson Our blessed hands will reach your leaders and soldiers wherever they are (You Opened Hell Gates on Yourselves)
— Alqassam Brigades (@AlqassamBrigade) November 14, 2012
Breaking: Israeli Navy has struck terror sites in the #Gaza Strip. #PillarOfDefense
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) November 14, 2012
Ahmed Jabari: Eliminated. twitter.com/IDFSpokesperso…
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) November 14, 2012
Tonight, more than 1 million Israelis are going to sleep in bomb shelters. This operation will bring a better tomorrow.
— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) November 14, 2012
