Live-streamed murders in Buffalo, New York, and Christchurch, New Zealand, continue to circulate on the web and have amassed millions of views long after the actual events occurred. Efforts by companies to prevent access to violent videos have proven challenging due to the unrestricted nature of the internet, which allows for easy viewing, saving, and sharing of videos at a rapid pace. Additionally, the tactics used by killers and propagandists have evolved, utilizing various online services to ensure the longevity of these videos.
Hamas, the military wing of Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, recently released an audio message stating that their fighters would execute hostages one by one every time an Israeli strike hits a house in Gaza. The densely populated Gaza Strip, home to over two million Palestinians under Hamas control, has been the target of an aggressive assault by Hamas, resulting in the abduction of more than 100 individuals, predominantly civilians. Video evidence obtained by The Washington Post confirms that some of these abductees have already been killed, and the spokesman for Hamas announced that the executions would be broadcasted in both audio and video formats, though there is no specific information regarding the time or location of these broadcasts.
While reminiscent of similar threats and videos released by ISIS nearly a decade ago, Hamas’ decision to record and broadcast executions that have yet to occur marks a new and calculated method for inciting fear and panic. Graham Brookie, Senior Director of the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab, notes that Hamas aims to maximize the destructive impact of their actions and draw as much attention as possible to instill fear in the broader public. This real-time glossy propaganda content is a new development in the realm of extremist messaging.
Hamas has utilized Telegram, an unmoderated messaging platform with a vast user base of over 800 million international users, to share graphic videos of kidnappings and murders from their recent attack. These videos often display sophisticated features such as opening title animations and action-movie-style soundtracks, suggesting that Hamas has developed a pre-established workflow for recording, editing, and publishing their content. Some edited versions of the videos were made available online within hours after the ambush commenced.
Josh Lipowsky, a Senior Research Analyst at the Counter Extremism Project, an advocacy group in Washington, explains that Hamas has prepared extensively for this situation and has established professional systems to disseminate their message effectively. The group is expected to publish any execution videos on Telegram, which can then be reposted on popular mainstream platforms like X (formerly known as Twitter), potentially garnering millions of views. However, there is also the possibility that the executions will be live-streamed via social media or other websites using throwaway accounts, following the example of past mass murderers. This tactic ensures that the videos will be saved and distributed across multiple platforms, making it virtually impossible for them to be entirely eradicated from the internet.
While mainstream social networks such as Facebook have implemented content moderation systems and employ staff to detect and block violent content, the viral nature of these videos often outpaces their removal efforts. Following the Christchurch mosque shootings in 2019, 14 internet services and 55 international governments supported the Christchurch Call, a policy initiative designed to combat the dissemination of extremist content. However, these initiatives are not proactive in monitoring live streams or shared videos, enabling violent individuals to circumvent regulations. For instance, when a racist gunman live-streamed the murder of ten people in a Buffalo grocery store last year, the video was immediately removed from Twitch, but not before someone reposted it on other platforms like Facebook, resulting in millions of views.
Hamas’ videos are known for their extreme brutality, surpassing other conflict zone videos in their graphic nature. This is due, in part, to the group’s meticulous planning and advanced technological capabilities. Some videos even feature militants filming from a first-person perspective using GoPro cameras, adding to the visceral impact. The use of such footage has become increasingly common in modern combat, with examples from Ukraine and Syria. The recent warning by Hamas about broadcasting executions indicates the group’s drive towards a more fast-paced style of terror propaganda, aimed at demoralizing Israelis and the global Jewish community.
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