Amid rising violence in Gaza for the past few days, one of Donald Trump’s senior campaign advisors for the 2016-2020 campaign, Katrina Pierson, has gone to Twitter to share a video falsely claiming to show Hamas rockets fired at Israel.
{"preview_thumbnail":"https://cdn.flowplayer.com/6684a05f-6468-4ecd-87d5-a748773282a3/i/v-i-9…","video_id":"948dda86-5944-4425-a43b-c94b9ad9cb1e","player_id":"8ca46225-42a2-4245-9c20-7850ae937431","provider":"flowplayer","video":"Israel Launches Attacks on 320 Sites in Gaza"}
In her tweet, Pierson addressed Minnesota Congresswoman, Ilhan Omar, in her tweet asking Omar whether she will condemn what Hamas is doing.
The video, confirmed fake later, showed rockets being fired in Ukraine's Donbass region, filmed earlier in 2015.
650 Rockets being fired into Israel from Gaza in an attempt to overwhelm Israels Iron Dome: 173 intercepts, 4 people killed, and 28 wounded. What is @IlhanMN response to this violence? Will she condemn it? pic.twitter.com/Vb1Ymxygj6
— Katrina Pierson (@KatrinaPierson) May 5, 2019
Meanwhile, the tweet has gone viral and received thousands of retweets with people sharing the original video from 2015.
This video is from Ukraine, not Gaza. Trump advisor @KatrinaPierson is fully aware she’s lying but is so thirsty for Palestinian blood that she’s happy to lie to create pretext for Israel to kill even more. https://t.co/k8orxGO2vu
— Dan Cohen (@dancohen3000) May 5, 2019
Pierson’s lack of knowledge and information as a senior advisor for the US President's campaign was also met with outrage and condemnation.
Hey @KatrinaPierson this video is from Ukraine 2015. What is your response to faking a video? Do you condemn yourself? pic.twitter.com/bQZcR063sK
— Dusty Giebel (@DustinGiebel) May 5, 2019
Others went to share real videos from Gaza showing Israeli airstrikes targeting civilians, homes and media agencies.
— MrsLovesToRead ?☕? (@PatriciasBooks) May 6, 2019
In fact, Pierson’s tweet has highlighted the issue with the misleading mainstream media coverage in the US and around the world. During the past few days, the New York Times, the CNN and the BBC have been heavily criticized for their coverage of the violence in Gaza.
This is anti-Palestine propaganda spoon-fed to the masses. Pointing the blame on “Gaza militants” & erasing everything that is inconvenient is dehumanizing. No reference to Israel apartheid, the killing of Palestinian protestors, ethnic cleansing or illegal settlements. Shameful. pic.twitter.com/0Vy5jXhoKX
— Dr. Craig Considine (@CraigCons) May 5, 2019
The attacks began after Hamas fired retaliatory strikes at two civilians who were killed on Gaza borders by Israeli snipers on Friday while taking part of weekly protests against the blockade.
In response, Israel carried out waves of strikes on Gaza killing more than 25 people; including children, and injuring more than 100. On the other hand, Israeli authorities confirmed four Israelis dead and a dozen injured in Hamas retaliatory rockets.
We were supposed to celebrate Ramadan in #Gaza but.. pic.twitter.com/VI5Gd2V0zR
— Sarah (@sarahsaftawi) May 4, 2019
The flare-up comes at a time when Palestinians in Gaza are preparing for the holy month of Ramadan amid harsh economic conditions resulting from the 7-year-long blockade on the Strip.
On Sunday night, officials in Israel and Hamas confirmed agreeing a ceasefire that begins on early Monday morning.
An airstrike has hit a nearby house where I live! 30 seconds of our life in #Gaza.!I have experienced the most terrific and scary hour in my life!Evacuation, panicking, and airstrikes #GazaUnderAttack pic.twitter.com/w2WQP2txFv
— Rasha Abushaban (@TeaRash_Rash) May 4, 2019
