Prominent Jewish American investor Bill Ackman has cautioned Israeli protesters against undermining national unity during the ongoing Gaza conflict. Ackman's comments come in the wake of recent demonstrations in Israel and amid reports of a captured Hamas document detailing psychological warfare tactics.
With the benefit of perspective from a distance, I think the protesters in @Israel are making a grave mistake. By protesting Israel's leadership one day after Hamas executed an American and five Israelis in cold blood, the protesters are rewarding Hamas for their barbaric acts…
— Bill Ackman (@BillAckman) September 3, 2024
"With the benefit of perspective from a distance, I think the protesters in Israel are making a grave mistake," Ackman stated on social media. The hedge fund manager expressed concern that public protests against Israeli leadership, particularly following Hamas's execution of six hostages, could inadvertently reward the militant group's actions. "The protesters are rewarding Hamas for their barbaric acts and blaming their leadership for the loss."
Ackman emphasized the potential dangers of internal division during wartime. "I understand that a large number of Israelis don't like and/or trust Netanyahu, but it is difficult, if not impossible, to defeat one's enemies if the people don't support their leadership during the war," he argued. The investor advised, "First, win the war and do everything to get the hostages back, and then Israel can once again focus on politics," describing his comments as "Advice from a friend."
🔴 Psychological warfare: Hamas's Al-Qassam spokesman Abu Obeida says Israel must choose between living hostages or military ops – 'Only Netanyahu and the occupation army bear full responsibility for the killing of the hostages'
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) September 2, 2024
His comments come as Channel 12 reported on an IDF discovery of a document allegedly outlining Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar's instructions for psychological warfare against Israel. The document, found in Gaza, reportedly details strategies to exploit divisions within Israeli society and increase pressure regarding hostages.
Netanyahu shows a translated Hamas document that was found in Gaza that suggests putting psychological pressure on the Israeli public by blaming Netanyahu for everything, and targeting defense minister Yoav Gallant as the key to undermining support for the government and the war. pic.twitter.com/Yy4KqZ9z5k
— Joel Pollak (@joelpollak) September 2, 2024
According to Yeshiva World News, citing the Channel 12 report, the captured document includes directives to continue releasing hostage images and videos "due to the psychological pressure they create" on the Israeli public. It also instructs Hamas to "Encourage the argument that Netanyahu is responsible" for the October 7 attacks and subsequent conflict and to "Do everything to increase the psychological pressure on Defense Minister Yoav Gallant."
The document also instructs them to "Refute the narrative that only increased ground attacks will eventually bring back the hostages." Hamas's Al-Qassam spokesman Abu Obeida also pushed this narrative, saying Israel must choose between rescuing living and dead hostages and that "Only Netanyahu and the occupation army bear full responsibility for the killing of the hostages."
Hamas executed six Israeli hostages and is now sharing videos taken of the hostages before they were murdered.
This is yet another form of Hamas' psychological warfare.
We will not further traumatize the Israeli families, who are living through their worst nightmares, by… pic.twitter.com/XzwwuW70Mu
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) September 2, 2024
Social media critics slam protesters, with one asserting, "You are playing right into their [Hamas] hand," while another claimed, "Bibi is used as a major scapegoat," and a third questioned, "Why are the goals of Israel's left and those of Enemy #1 Sinwar so perfectly coordinated?!"
