False Claims Spread to Deny Hamas Attack on Israel
• False claims are spreading that deny or distort the facts of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, including that it was a "false flag" staged by Israel to justify invading Gaza.
• These conspiracy theories have spread on social media and bled into the real world, with people shouting them at protests and removing posters of hostages.
• Researchers see ties between the false claims and Holocaust denial, which aims to undermine Jewish suffering. Neo-Nazis are finding new allies among some pro-Palestinian activists.
• Influencers known for questioning the Holocaust are also sowing doubts about the Oct. 7 attacks. The current conflict is helping them reach new audiences.
• Experts warn these conspiracy theories may follow a similar trajectory as Holocaust denial, which has seen a resurgence online in recent years. Social media enables the erosion of historical facts.