39 years after the First Intifada: Israel falls into the same trap again | Nahman Shai

Nahman Shai, a former IDF spokesperson, argues that Israel is repeating the mistake of the First Intifada by closing Gaza to foreign media. He analyzes how the blockade left the arena to Hamas's narratives and warns of a media defeat. Shai calls for allowing journalists access to the Strip to showcase humanitarian aid and the fight against terrorism, while criticizing government policy.

Nahman Shai, who served as IDF spokesperson during the First Intifada, analyzes in his article the ongoing media failure of Israel in the Gaza campaign. He compares the policy of closing the territories to the media back then to the current decision to prevent journalists from entering the Strip. Shai describes how during the First Intifada, small video cameras distributed to PLO activists documented IDF activity in the closed area, breaking the monopoly of the IDF spokesperson on information. He notes that even during Operation Defensive Shield in 2002, attempts to prevent media coverage during the siege of the Church of the Nativity and the Jenin refugee camp failed, and the Palestinians successfully marketed their version. Shai argues that the current closure of Gaza leaves the arena to the narratives of Hamas and Al Jazeera, causing severe damage to Israel. He criticizes the use of the claim of anti-Semitism as a way to deal with criticism and calls for allowing international media access to showcase humanitarian aid and the fight against terrorism. According to him, the government is wrong in its heavy-handed policy and is paying heavy prices.