The NY Times: All the Hamas propaganda that’s fit to print

Soccer Dad takes the New York Times to task in their latest Israel article. But he missed a spot where they are passing along Hamas propaganda, even while giving the readers the information showing that they’re passing along the propaganda.

In Gaza City on Tuesday, a group of young Hamas supporters persuaded dozens of Palestinian livestock owners to take their animals to a demonstration outside the local offices of the United Nations. They were seeking to draw attention to the blockade, in which Israel has for months allowed only essential goods, mostly supplied by relief organizations, into Gaza.

Note the text in bold. It says that Hamas “persuaded” Palestinians to join a protest. How did they “persuade” these people?

The livestock owners were paid 100 shekels each (about $28) to attend the protest, as well as transportation costs. Hundreds of animals — sheep, camels and donkeys — came from all over Gaza. Fatah supporters refused to take part.

Ah. So they were bribed to take part in a demonstration. Not “persuaded.” And how much “persuasion” did it cost?

Ashraf Abu Amrah, 24, who came with 16 donkeys, said he had to support more than 20 relatives on about $10 a day.

Let’s compare. Abu Amrah is supporting his family on $10 a day. Hamas paid him $28—plus transportation costs—to bring his donkeys to a photo op protest in front of the UN building. That’s roughly three days’ pay. That’s some “persuasion.”

And now for the sob story.

He used to make a lot of money with his donkey carts, transporting cement for construction projects, he said. Now cement is in short supply and the price of hay has doubled because of the blockade, he said.

There would be no blockade on Gaza if Hamas stopped trying to murder Israelis from within it. That never seems to be an angle in these stories, however.

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