Throughout history, the distribution of information has proven to be widespread and rapid. Though the spread of news comes with multiple benefits, along with it comes the dangerous side effects of propaganda and misinformation. Recently, a graphic1 circled social media comparing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, currently funding the Gaza genocide, to Adolf Hitler, the perpetrator of one of the most horrific genocides in human history, a blatant misrepresentation that not only fails to do justice to either side, but also damages the credibility of those involved in making the graphic. Such a comparison is not only dishonest in its representation of information but is disrespectful to the millions of Holocaust victims and to the survivors whose suffering is undervalued to fuel propaganda.
The evidence presented is selective and misleading. The comparison fails to acknowledge the significant differences in atrocities perpetrated by each leader. The graphic claims that Netanyahu has killed 178 children per day in Gaza, compared with Hitler who killed 127 children daily in Auschwitz. The implication that the effects of the Gaza genocide are much more severe than that of the Holocaust is fundamentally incorrect. The creators fail to acknowledge that Auschwitz, while the deadliest, was one of 44,000 concentration camps and ghettos set up by Nazi Germany.2 Additionally, 11 million lives were lost to the Holocaust between 1933 and 1945.3 Comparatively, as of March 2024, the death toll from the Gaza genocide is around 30,000.4 After doing the math, 458,333 people on average were killed during the Holocaust every half year, a rate more than 14x higher than that of Gaza. Even though the creators do not outright state that Netanyahu has surpassed Hitler, it is easy for someone who does not have prior knowledge of either conflict to easily fall into this trap. While it is understandable that people want to bring attention to the noble Palestinian cause, spreading misinformation only exacerbates the situation. Creating misleading comparisons such as these do no side justice; this disgusting use of false news only serves to extend misinformation and deepen societal divisions.
Similar to the misinformation portrayed in the graphic, two past instances of propaganda in particular highlight the damage that can be done by misinformation: the fabricated stories of the German Corpse Factory and Benjamin Franklin's fake issue of the Boston Newspaper. Used as anti-German propaganda during World War I, newspapers wrote that German military officials would remove the fat from dead soldiers to make soap, provide dead meat to animals, etc.5 In 1925, John Charteris, head of the British propaganda department, confessed that he made up the story to China to win new allies in the war, which, of course, did not happen. Similarly, Benjamin Franklin created a fake issue for the Boston Newspaper in 1782 to gain sympathy for the American cause during the Revolution.6 He wrote that Britain hired Native Americans to scalp, preserving the enemy’s scalp as a trophy,7 American military officials and civilians.8 His words were mass-produced by other newspapers in the country, exacerbating public hostility towards the Native Americans. Franklin’s efforts to gain sympathy for the American cause through publishing fake news defaming another group of people with whom they already had tensions did not end up helping either side in terms of winning the war. In both of these instances, if they came out with the truth as is, they might have gained more recognition. Instead, they pursued a false narrative in an attempt to make themselves look good. Yes, it might have worked in the beginning, but after they were exposed, it only painted them in a negative light. Both of these scenarios prove that the spread of misinformation is not just a practice of the modern world, but has been prevalent in the past as well. The manipulation of public opinion throughout time emphasizes the dangers of allowing falsehoods to shape public opinions.
Moreover, the consequences of false information go beyond simple misrepresentation; they can intensify existing tensions and hinder efforts toward reconciliation. By placing individuals or groups in a negative light, such narratives contribute to a tense climate of animosity, making meaningful conversations increasingly difficult to achieve. The spread of misinformation will only contribute to a much more tense climate between the two sides, only hindering progress toward reaching stability. Furthermore, misinformation spreads rapidly and will sway people who do not have background knowledge of the situation. Referring back to the Netanyahu v. Hitler graphic, it is easy for someone without prior knowledge of the atrocities of World War II or the genocide in Gaza to be easily influenced by its misrepresentation of information. If such individuals share or repost this information to others they know, it only further spreads misinformation, and with it all the harms that come alongside such propaganda.
Instances of misleading or false information and the accompanying evidence highlight the dangers of misrepresentation in media and the importance of responsibly spreading information. By misrepresenting historical events, underplaying human suffering, and creating falsehoods, such narratives not only fail to do justice to either side but also diminish the foundations of truth and integrity. It is essential to challenge false narratives, uphold the principles of accuracy, and strive toward a more informed and empathetic understanding of the world around us.
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