Russia is using both overt and covert propaganda tactics to exploit America’s divisive debate over Israel’s offensive in Gaza, aiming to worsen political tensions in the U.S. and tarnish Washington’s global image. This effort includes the use of artificial intelligence, fake social media accounts, and a surge in propaganda from Russian state media. The goal is to capitalize on existing political rifts in America and other NATO countries, with a specific focus on diverting attention from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by portraying itself as a champion of the Palestinians.
During the first seven weeks after Hamas’ attack on Israel, posts on Facebook from Russian state media, pro-Russian commentators, and Russian diplomats increased by 400 percent. These posts promoted dark conspiracies involving Ukraine, with claims that Ukrainian mercenaries were fighting alongside Israeli forces in Gaza. Moscow is also targeting Europe with similar tactics, as seen in France’s accusations against a Russian-linked network of bots for stoking antisemitism through social media posts. This effort is aimed at exploiting international crises to create confusion and tensions in public debates in France and Europe.
Russia’s long-standing information operations aim to paint America as a failing democratic state, with a focus on undermining democratic institutions and processes. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines highlighted Russia’s efforts to denigrate America’s standing in the world and exploit social, political, and economic divisions within American society. While some experts caution against overstating the impact of Russian propaganda on the debate over Israel’s campaign in Gaza, there is acknowledgment of Russia’s sophisticated use of artificial intelligence tools in its information operations.
Amid reports of propaganda efforts by foreign actors to influence protest movements in the U.S., experts advise caution in attributing the divisiveness of debates to outside influence. Allegations of foreign interference can be used to delegitimize authentic democratic movements, such as the Black Lives Matter protests. Russia’s amplification of divisions over Gaza is seen as a tactic to attract readers to other pro-Russian propaganda content on social media, with the ultimate goal of shaping attitudes on the war in Ukraine. Additionally, Russia is spreading disinformation to damage President Joe Biden and his fellow Democrats in anticipation of the 2024 U.S. election.
The campaign to exploit America’s debate over Israel’s offensive in Gaza is part of Russia’s broader strategy to undermine the West and sow discord within Western countries. By inflaming existing political divisions and using propaganda tactics to shape public attitudes, Moscow seeks to manipulate global narratives in its favor. While U.S. officials and experts stress the need to be vigilant against foreign influence operations, they also emphasize the importance of recognizing and addressing internal divisions and challenges within American society to strengthen resilience against outside manipulation.
