Gaslighting and Projection of Orwellian Proportion

The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) finds itself engaged in a pivotal and agonising conflict in Gaza following the unspeakable atrocities perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

This war, however, extends far beyond the battlefield; it is also an information war of staggering proportions. At the heart of this struggle lie two psychological tactics—gaslighting and projection—employed on a scale that brings to mind George Orwell’s dystopian warnings in 1984. This article explores these concepts, Hamas’ manipulation of casualty narratives, the infiltration of institutions like UNRWA, and the failures of journalistic integrity that exacerbate these falsehoods.

Gaslighting, Projection, and Orwell’s Legacy

Gaslighting is a manipulative tactic where reality is distorted, causing individuals to doubt their own understanding of events. Originating from Patrick Hamilton’s play Gas Light, the term now refers to psychological manipulation at scale. Similarly, projection involves attributing one’s own unacceptable behaviours to others, a tactic of deflection that shifts blame while masking the truth.

Orwell’s 1984 provides a chilling framework for understanding these tactics in modern conflict: propaganda, rewriting history, and suppressing dissent have become key tools in the war of perception. Today, Hamas exploits these methods to manipulate narratives, spread disinformation, and obscure its culpability.

Hamas’ False Narratives and Casualty Manipulation

Hamas-controlled sources, such as the Gaza Ministry of Health (MoH), systematically inflate casualty figures by failing to distinguish between civilians and combatants, over-reporting fatalities among women and children, and even including deaths unrelated to the conflict. Major Andrew Fox’s report Questionable Counting, published by the Henry Jackson Society, reveals how these distortions fuel misleading global narratives. The uncritical repetition of these figures by international media has profoundly shaped public opinion, often to the detriment of truth and justice.

Fox’s report highlights four critical issues:

• Manipulated Casualty Figures: The MoH inflates death tolls by failing to differentiate between combatants and civilians, over-counting fatalities, and including pre-conflict deaths.
• Combatant Deaths Omitted: Only three per cent of major media reports include combatant fatalities, while 98 per cent rely on unverified Hamas figures. This omission reinforces the misleading claim that all deaths are civilian.
• Hamas Instructions to Mislead: A 2014 directive instructed operatives to describe all casualties as “innocent civilians” and avoid revealing combatant deaths.
• Journalistic Failures: Media outlets’ failure to critically evaluate Hamas-supplied data raises significant ethical concerns and risks influencing policy decisions based on misinformation.

The UNRWA Problem: Hamas Infiltration

The infiltration of UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) by Hamas represents another layer of this conflict. Facilities intended for humanitarian purposes have been exploited to store weapons, launch rockets, and embed fighters. Reports from the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) highlight how Hamas manipulates civilian infrastructure to shield its operations.

This exploitation undermines UNRWA’s mission and endangers civilians, yet many media outlets fail to account for this reality when citing UNRWA as a source. By amplifying Hamas narratives without scrutiny, journalists inadvertently legitimise a terrorist organisation while ignoring the true complexity of the situation.

Journalistic Integrity, Adaptive Campaigning, and Accountability

In the fog of war, journalistic integrity often becomes the first casualty. Many media outlets uncritically echo Hamas’ claims, presenting its narratives as fact while casting doubt on Israeli data. By conflating civilian and combatant casualties and disregarding evidence of deliberate manipulation, these reports distort public understanding and embolden terror.

The Australian Army’s Adaptive Campaigning framework (now superseded) offered a valuable lens for addressing these challenges. It outlined five interdependent Lines of Operation (LOOs):

• Joint Land Combat: Integrated offensive and defensive operations to defeat adversaries.
• Population Protection: Ensuring the safety of civilians to foster stability.
• Information Actions: Managing information to counter misinformation and support operational goals.
• Population Support: Delivering essential services to earn local trust.
• Indigenous Capacity Building: Strengthening local security forces and governance to sustain peace.

The Information Actions LOO remains particularly relevant, stressing the necessity of accurate, verified reporting. Misinformation can mislead audiences, undermine lawful operations, and lend credibility to adversarial propaganda. Upholding journalistic integrity is therefore essential to ensure that information shared during conflicts is truthful and does not inadvertently fuel hostility.

What some Western journalists have done since October 7, 2023, is akin to reproducing propaganda reminiscent of Goebbels’ Ministry of Propaganda in the 1940s. The actions of these ideologically compromised journalists range from irresponsible to outright harmful. If a similar dereliction of duty occurred in medicine, those responsible would likely face malpractice lawsuits. The field of journalism must face comparable oversight to restore public confidence in the credibility of what they read and watch.

A Call to Action

The manipulation of truth in the Gaza conflict is not just an issue for Israel—it is a global problem. The integrity of journalism, the credibility of international organisations, and the ability of nations to counter terrorism are all under threat. To combat this, we must:

1. Demand Accountability: Media outlets must rigorously verify all claims, particularly those from Hamas-controlled sources.
2. Reject Double Standards: Expose and address selective reporting that applies differing standards to Israel.
3. Demand Integrity: Governments, institutions, and individuals must challenge falsehoods and print retractions.

Gaslighting and projection are tools of psychological warfare that Hamas has weaponised with devastating effect. As Orwell so aptly warned, “Freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows.”

In this moment of deepening crisis, the world must find the courage to stand for truth, expose falsehoods, and ensure that Israel’s efforts to protect innocent lives are recognised for what they are: a defence of justice against a regime that thrives on deception.

Colonel Michael Scott, CSC, has served for over thirty years as a professional soldier with the Australian Defence Force. He is the Founder and CEO of The 2023 Foundation, a nascent global charity dedicated to combating antisemitism and fostering peaceful coexistence.

The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not reflect the positions of the Australian Defence Force or the Commonwealth Government of Australia.

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