Israeli travelers in South America are facing a dangerous new threat as pro-Palestinian social media accounts have launched a targeted campaign to identify and label them as "war criminals." Young Israelis who traveled to Latin America after their military service have discovered videos of themselves being shared online with harmful accusations, even though many never served in the Gaza conflict.
The video, which garnered 90,000 views, turned the Israelis featured in it into targets. The absurdity is that some of them didn't even serve in the reserves during Operation Iron Swords. The original video was filmed at a Chabad House in one of the capital cities in South America (exact locations cannot be specified for security concerns).
"After seeing the video for the first time, I thought it was just a small clip," says Yair (pseudonym), one of the young people appearing in it. "It had maybe 1,500 likes, and I didn't give it much importance. But after a few days, when the video continued to circulate and appear, I realized the problem was bigger. It became a tool for hatred against Israelis. I wasn't in Gaza, I didn't serve in the reserves, and yet I found myself accused of war crimes."
Security officials, whom the Israelis contacted, explained that there isn't much to do besides reporting the Instagram accounts spreading the video. "They told us that's the only way to deal with the distribution," the young man recounts.
Mexico 🇲🇽 should take legal action like Brazil 🇧🇷 did
This Israeli soldier is currently on a tourist trip in Mexico and has participated in the genocide in Gaza and South Lebanon.
Someone should contact the Hind Rajab organization @HindRFoundation pic.twitter.com/4NMlfC45fG
— Ryan Rozbiani (@RyanRozbiani) January 5, 2025
The young Israelis are now careful to maintain a low profile. "I simply don't post anything, my account (Instagram) is private," says the young man. "The concern is that your name will spread, and the consequences could be severe. There's the thought sitting in your head of a video on hate pages with 90,000 views floating around the internet."
National Security Council's guidelines for travelers to South America:
Stay alert: Avoid conspicuous behavior that might draw unnecessary attention, and stay updated on the security situation in the country you're visiting.
Regular communication: It's recommended to maintain contact with family members and friends in Israel, and update them about your location and stay forecasts.
Avoid dangerous areas: Stay away from areas with high presence of terror supporters or known security threats.
