"A cross-border investigation by members of the Eurovision News Spotlight, including DW Fact check, has uncovered that the State of Israel has used its Government Advertising Agencyto run paid international campaigns aimed at shaping public opinion in parts of Europe and North America. For at least a year, an Israeli YouTube accounthas been running ad campaigns that discredit UN agencies and challenge the findings of internationally recognized watchdogs."
"On August 22, the same day as the publication of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) assessment that there is a famine in large parts of the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Government Advertising Agency launched a new campaign denying the famine. Two videos were promoted via paid ads on the official YouTube channel of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is verified with a black check mark."
The State of Israel used its Government Advertising Agency to run paid international campaigns aimed at shaping public opinion in parts of Europe and North America. An Israeli YouTube account ran ad campaigns for at least a year that discredit UN agencies and challenge internationally recognized watchdogs. A government document shows at least 42 million (approx. $49 million) was spent on ad campaigns across platforms like YouTube and X since mid-June 2025. These efforts are part of Israel's Hasbara public diplomacy strategy to promote Israel's image abroad. On August 22 the Government Advertising Agency launched a campaign denying the famine in Gaza. Two videos on the verified Ministry of Foreign Affairs YouTube channel showed markets full of food and restaurants serving meals, allegedly filmed in Gaza in July and August 2025, and ended with the statement: "There is food in Gaza. Any other claim is a lie." The videos were viewed more than 18 million times and published in English, Italian, German and Polish. YouTube ads can be targeted by gender, age and region.
Read at www.dw.com
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