Survey Responses: Disinformation

Written By Up Root Publication

We asked Librarian and Archivists with Palestine members their thoughts on disinformation and misinformation as it relates to the genocide in Gaza. Many have chosen to stay anonymous to protect their identities. Here’s what they have to say.

What kinds of dis or misinformation tactics have you seen play out in the media?

“The constant discrediting of any pro-Palestinian voices, or even just voices just calling for peace or a cease fire. This usually involves conflating all Palestinians with Hamas, conflating anti-zionism with anti-semitism, calling aid organizations or anyone who calls Israel out, a terrorist or as having ties with Hamas (UNRWA, South Africa).”

— Anonymous, librarian

“There is significant bias in the mainstream media on coverage of the genocide. There is misinformation, disinformation, and biased perspectives on social media on Palestinian history, Palestinian idenitity, and the occupation's actions in Gaza and the West Bank. A very common misinformation I see repeated is that there was never a Palestinian identity or a Palestinian people and that the term was invented in the 70s by the PLO.

— Anonymous, librarian

“Speaking from an American's perspective, the mainstream media's deliberate commitment to misinformation - to the point of denying the most widely-documented genocide in modern history - puts archivists and keepers of knowledge at risk. The destruction of libraries and research centers in Gaza, the targeting of journalists and information keepers (over 120 martyred since Oct. 7th), it feels familiar to how the US destroys archives of Black and Native resistance (language culture, religion, etc), and the millions put towards bills that ban books and curriculum refusing to follow a certain imperial narrative in schools.

Just a little bit of research into the Balfour declaration and 1948 Nakba would, for most critical thinkers, indicate that there is something deeper in this current genocide than protection for a historically marginalized group. Instead, factual information is being withheld, devalued, and covered over by an easy false logic that has led and will continue to cause the deaths of millions of Palestinian men, women, and children. And with the false narratives and destruction of Palestinian culture - from hummus to dabke to keffieyh...what will be left to debunk it all and clarify in any meaningful way?”

— Anonymous, high school library technician

“War is digital now. Trust in news sources is low and everybody is online. Propaganda is easier to debunk than ever and easier to fall for. The live coverage of events plugged straight into social media means that information gets interpreted rapidly and sometimes wrong.

Take coverage of 39 babies in Al-Shifa. The 39 babies were taken off incubators due to the electric being cut off. Many took this to mean the babies died and posts were made about 39 babies dying. It's a simple and natural assumption to make. Fortunately, not all of them died and 31 survived. By the opposing side, this act of social media telephone could be construed as propaganda--"see you're just re-posting lies, this isn't true".

A similar case with Starbucks becoming the face of the boycott. At the time of this writing, Starbucks isn't a corporation that is funding Israel. They are being boycotted because they punished their union for supporting Palestine. However, their inclusion on boycott lists has mixed the reasoning behind why they're being boycotted. Small cracks like these create "gotcha you're a sheep" moments to discredit a movement. Each side thinks the other is falling for mis/disinformation or propaganda.”

— Jeanne K., OER librarian

“There is significant bias in the mainstream media on coverage of the genocide. There is misinformation, disinformation, and biased perspectives on social media on Palestinian history, Palestinian idenitity, and the occupation's actions in Gaza and the West Bank. A very common misinformation I see repeated is that there was never a Palestinian identity or a Palestinian people and that the term was invented in the 70s by the PLO.”

— Anonymous, librarian

How are you fighting disinformation or misinformation about Palestine? Do you have success stories?

“I work with jr high and high school children. They ask for books about Palestine, and so I have a small collection at the front of our library display, including "Young Palestinians Speak: Living Under Occupation," "Samir and Yonatan," "Tasting the Sky," and "Balcony on the Moon." I also have a book on Islamaphobia. The kids want to understand what's going on, to educate themselves and to contribute meaningfully. And there are books out there - for all age levels - to learn and build collective knowledge.”

— Anonymous, high school library technician

“From what I've seen on my campus at a public university in Texas, Palestine is a topic that is not talked about. Faculty know to self-censor. Not knowing this, I posted a link to a reading list of adult fiction by Palestinians, to our Library teams chat. This post was deleted and I was censured for posting it as not applicable to the library. So I got the message real quick that we are not to speak of Palestine or Israel or this conflict, at all, in a professional capacity. As an archivist, I processed the collection of a Palestinian American poet, so I am thinking about ways to promote her work without saying, I'm promoting the work of a Palestinian.”

— Anonymous

What Next?

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Survey Responses: Censorship + Intellectual Freedom