The Israeli PM's spokesman has faced a fiery backlash, including accusations of racism, after he mischaracterized female flag-waving Palestine protesters, calling them "ISIS women." Hamas is in a state of war with the 'caliphate'.
Ofir Gendelman, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Arab media spokesman, sparked a Twitter storm after he captioned an image with four veiled female protesters in the foreground as "ISIS women also participate today in the Hamas' led riots on the Gaza border."
He then piled on another highly dubious claim: "That's no surprise because Hamas IS the Gazan branch of ISIS."
Gendelman was immediately keel-hauled by commenters pointing that there was no way an ISIS woman would be waving a Palestinian flag, which is considered to be secular blasphemy by the group, let alone the fact that Hamas is at war with the Sinai branch of the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL).
1. ISIS women dont dress like that (colours! Eyes showing!)
2. ISIS rejects all nations or national flags including the Palestinian one
3. Hamas is Muslim Brotherhood and is at war with a tiny ISIS wannabe branch in Gaza
— Molly Crabapple (@mollycrabapple) March 30, 2019
Since Gendelman appeared to be basing his branding of the women as terrorists solely on the fact they were wearing the niqab full-face veil, he was called out as racist and Islamophobic:
"This is nothing but racism, Islamophobia (yes, that term exists actually!) and political propaganda. You know very well that these women are not ISIS but nevertheless you spread such messages," one commentator wrote.
This is nothing but racism, Islamophobia (yes, that term exists actually!) and political propaganda. You know very well that these women are not ISIS but nevertheless you spread such messages.
— Ruslan Trad (@ruslantrad) March 31, 2019
"This is clear incitement meant to justify the killing of protesters," another noted.
Netanyahu spokesperson @ofirgendelman tweets a photo of Palestinian women wearing niqabs at today's Gaza protest, describing them as 'ISIS women.' This is clear incitement meant to justify the killing of protesters. pic.twitter.com/zIV3lFqNKl
— Daniel Wickham (@DanielWickham93) March 30, 2019
Some pointed out that even the long-sleeved gowns the women wear are incompatible with the strict Sharia-based code enforced by IS militants, since they are not black, but dark blue, grey and brown.
Overall, Gendelman's tweet earned the brands of "making no sense","bull**t" and "inappropriate even by Zionist standards."
Ofir, you either know what you tweeted is bullshit and just did it anyway, or your head is really stuck up your ass.
— Mohannad Sabry (@mmsabry) March 30, 2019
That makes no sense. Hamas has been actively fighting an IS copycat group in Gaza and ISIS publicly recognized NO national flag or group, including Hamas.
— Katie (@sothenkatiesays) March 30, 2019
This is so inappropriate even by zionist standards
— MJ (@MoJundi) March 30, 2019
Do you have any evidence these women are ISIS? Or just the outfit? Do you coRead More – Source
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