El-Estiklal:

UAE's Hidden Hand in AI-Driven Campaign Defaming European Muslims, Attacking Qatar

This covert campaign, operating across multiple digital platforms, uses anti-Muslim propaganda to attack Qatar.

Its primary goal is to tarnish the image of Muslims in Europe, America, and Canada through a series of dubious accounts promoting misleading information, videos, and images that depict them as "extremist Islamists" hostile to the West.

It also targets Qatar for its role in trying to end the Israeli war on Gaza and supporting some Muslim activities in the West.

On July 7, 2024, a study by two foreign researchers revealed shocking truths about American and European groups targeting Muslims in Europe and Qatar. The study was conducted by Marc Owen Jones, an expert in disinformation, propaganda, and digital authoritarianism in social media at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, and Sohan Dsouza, a media expert at MIT based in London.

The study, titled The Qatar Plot, uncovered new information about one of the largest influence operations on social media aimed at tarnishing the image of Muslims in Western countries.

The study revealed that this campaign operates with extraordinary intensity across social media platforms, using AI programs to disseminate misleading, anti-foreigner, anti-Muslim, and anti-Qatar information through a vast network.

The content of this network, aimed at manipulating millions of social media users, reached at least 41 million people on Facebook alone.

The study noted that "AI-generated content" significantly created convincing yet deceptive narratives through images and videos.

They confirmed that the campaign began in 2023 and spread across several countries, centered on promoting anti-Islam and anti-immigrant rhetoric while targeting Qatar for its mediation role in ending the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza since October 7, 2023.

The disinformation and defamation campaign against Muslims and Qatar is conducted through platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok, particularly in France, the UK, the U.S., Germany, Spain, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, and others.

It confirmed that this campaign also promotes claims to incite the far right and feed its rhetoric with misleading information used in "Islamophobia" campaigns and to provoke against Western Muslims in general.

The experts' analysis revealed that the operation was executed in two phases, tracking more than 900 Facebook ads at a minimum.

The first phase, from January to March 2024, targeted Muslims in the UK, France, the U.S., Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia.

The second phase, from May to June 2024, targeted Muslims in France, Belgium, Sweden, Croatia, Malta, Germany, and the UK.

In the section concerning Doha, the study reveals that the aim of the Qatar Conspiracy campaign, orchestrated by unknown entities speculated to be the UAE, is to tarnish Qatar's global image.

The campaign portrays Qatar as a supporter of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), hosting their leaders, and backing them during mediation efforts to end the aggression against Gaza. It also alleges that Qatari institutions support "Islamic activities" in the West.

[RT]

PUNISHMENT & ISOLATION: International Reaction to ICJ Ruling Against ’Israeli’ Regime

International Outcry Against ‘Israeli’ Occupation 🌍

The ICJ's recent ruling against Israel's illegal settlements in the West Bank has sparked widespread international reactions. Here’s how the world is responding:

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia : Strongly welcomed the ICJ decision, reaffirming the illegality of Israel’s occupation and urging respect for Palestinian rights.

🇵🇸 Hamas: Celebrated the ruling as a confirmation of the Zionist occupation’s illegitimacy. They called for global action to enforce the ICJ's findings.

🇪🇺 EU's Borrell: Stressed the importance of adhering to international law and supported the ICJ’s stance against Israel’s illegal actions.

🇪🇬 Egypt: Urged Israel to cease settlement activities immediately and called for global support for Palestinian self-determination.

🇶🇦 Qatar: Praised the ruling for upholding international law, reiterating its steadfast support for the Palestinian cause.

🇿🇦 South Africa: Emphasized the need for global accountability and called for an end to complicity in Israel’s illegal occupation.

🇹🇷 Turkey: Demanded a firm international stance to end Israel’s illegal practices.

🇰🇼 Kuwait: Called on the international community to fulfill its duties in supporting Palestinian independence and ending aggression against Gaza.

🇧🇷 Brazil: Highlighted the need for a two-state solution and reaffirmed support for Palestinian sovereignty.

🇧🇴 Bolivia: Urged the UN to take measures to stop Israeli crimes and supported Palestine’s right to self-determination.

🇦🇺 Australia: Acknowledged the ICJ's role in upholding international law and called for concrete actions to halt Israeli settlement expansion.

🇧🇪 Belgium: Reaffirmed its commitment to international law and the ICJ’s decisions.

🇮🇩 Indonesia: Called on the UN General Assembly and Security Council to take necessary steps to end Israel’s unlawful presence in Palestine.

This overwhelming international support underscores the global consensus: Israel must end its illegal occupation and respect Palestinian rights. The world is watching, and the call for justice is louder than ever.

Sources: Mehr News Agency, Middle East Eye, Al Mayadeen English 🗞️

[K.P.]

Occupation Finance Minister Smotrich Slams Potential US Sanctions as ‘Fatal Blow’

‘Israeli’ Finance Minister Smotrich has lashed out against potential US sanctions over illegal settlement expansions in the West Bank, labeling them as a "fatal blow to Israeli sovereignty."

This move comes as a result of Smotrich’s aggressive efforts to expand illegal settlements in occupied territories, which has drawn ire from the international community.

🔹 Key Points:

Smotrich criticized the US decision as stemming from "internal political needs" of the US, which claims to lead the world's largest democracy.

He emphasized that imposing sanctions on an elected official for their governmental activities is a severe blow to “Israel’s sovereignty” and bilateral relations.

Smotrich downplayed Western sanctions, dismissing them as “a passing shadow and dust.”

🔹 Quote from Smotrich:
"My duty is to strengthen Israel’s grip on parts of the homeland in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) and prevent the establishment of a state that would endanger Israel’s existence."

🔹 Netanyahu's Response:
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet with US President Joe Biden, where he will address these issues directly. Netanyahu’s upcoming trip to Washington highlights the increasing tension between the US and Israel over settlement activities.

This development underscores the growing international pressure on “Israel” and highlights the US's potential shift towards holding “Israeli” officials accountable for their actions in the occupied territories.

Source: Middle East Monitor 🗞️

[K.P.]

Mothers against genocide - Dublin, Ireland.They are protesting again to stand in solidarity with the mothers in Palestine and their children.

[RT]

In an unprecedented move, a lawsuit has been filed in South Korea against seven high-ranking Israeli officials (Netanyahu, Herzog, Halevi, Gallant, Katz, Ben Gvir & Smotrich.

If they set foot in South Korea, they can now get arrested.

[RT]

Gallant said he removed restrictions on the use of military marches in the West Bank to “reduce endangering the lives of soldiers”.

[RT]