Anti-Hamas Sentiments Grow In Iran As Israel Becomes More Popular
Four decades of propaganda by the Islamic Republic to garner support for its anti-Israeli campaign seems to have backfired as many Iranians want defeat for Hamas.
Four decades of propaganda by the Islamic Republic to garner support for its anti-Israeli campaign seems to have backfired as many Iranians want defeat for Hamas.
This heightened interest in the war's developments is driven by growing concerns about the potential for an escalation that could entangle Iran in a deadly conflict with Israel, and potentially even involve the United States.
The potential for escalation was revealed in remarks by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken who told the UN Security Council on Tuesday: "The United States does not seek conflict with Iran. We do not want this war to widen. But if Iran or its proxies attack US personnel anywhere, make no mistake: we will defend our people, we will defend our security -- swiftly and decisively."
Iranian lawmakers and military commanders have issued several threats to reassure the nation that they are in a strong position. However, these counter-threats have only served to heighten concerns about the uncertain future, especially if one of these threats were to materialize into military or terrorist actions.
Both in the actual world and on social media, Iranians have been showing strong opposition to the government's pro-Hamas and anti-Israeli narratives as well as unusually vocal support for Israel in the Gaza war. “Neither Gaza, nor Lebanon, I will sacrifice my life for Iran,” has been a popular slogan for protesters, students and even football fans.
However, pro-regime filmmaker Abolqasem Talebi even claimed this week that the slogan was created by Israel, ignoring the fact that it was first chanted several years before the Gaza war.
An article on the moderate news website Rouydad24 on Monday tried to discourage Iranians from chanting the slogan which is the lingering legacy of nationwide anti-government protests since 2018.
The article suggested that this "nationalistic" slogan had the potential to pave the way for "fascism." A brief examination of the website on Monday showed that it was part of a series of articles critical of patriotic and nationalist sentiments, which share significant similarities in the Persian language.
The website's concern about the slogan and its preaching that Iranians "must not chant any slogan they think will be helpful in their struggle against the government" has been particularly raised after spectators at Iranian stadiums chanted the slogan when confronted with government propaganda about the Palestinian issue, especially when it was intended to express support for Hamas.
As the war in Gaza began, Iranians noticed brand new cars belonging to Palestinians who were leaving Gaza City in response to Israel's warning. Iranians shared images of these vehicles on social media, serving as a reminder that the government had been portraying Palestinians as impoverished for decades, all the while they were driving luxurious cars. This highlighted the stark contrast with Iranians who were struggling with high prices for poorly manufactured Iranian and Chinese vehicles.
In numerous videos from Gaza, Iranians also observed that Palestinians were living in homes and new apartment buildings that were much better than those in Iran.
Then came the news on social media about Hamas fighter being paid between $400 to $600 per month by the Iranian government, while current wages in Iran barely reach $200. The news may or may not be true, but given the current circumstances and the lack of fair and transparent information in Iranian media, people tend to believe even rumors.
The last blow came, once again on social media, and on satellite television, as footages showed Hamas Leader Ziad Nakhaleh shunning Shiism and telling Palestinians: "You can be a Shiite, but in this case you need to leave Hamas."
In recent weeks, Iranian stadiums have been venues for various anti-Hamas and anti-Palestinian incidents, as the government and its media often conflate Hamas with all of Palestine. Spectators at these events initially chanted disrespectful slogans when Palestinian flags were displayed in the stadium. In another instance, they created a disturbance by shouting and whistling when the loudspeakers called for a minute of silence to honor Palestinian "martyrs."
Meanwhile, numerous instances of Iranians expressing support for Israel have emerged on social media. Podcaster Sadegh Rohani pointed out in a tweet: "Israel has never been as popular in Iran as it is now. Even if there were Israel supporters before, they were not as outspoken as they are today."
The media campaign started simultaneously on several of the regime’s mouthpieces, such as websites affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards and the state broadcaster. A chyron message was aired during broadcasts calling on viewers to sign up and declare their readiness to be sent to Palestine to fight Israel.
A short message was also sent to Iranians asking them to express their readiness via SMS. The regime also launched a website with the name of al-Aqsa Storm, the codename Hamas used for its surprise air, sea and ground offensive into Israel that killed over 1,400 Israeli civilians and hundreds of soldiers.
The Iran-backed Islamist group, designated a terrorist group by the US and several other countries, also took more than 220 people as hostages.
Although most Iranians are familiar with such regime gimmicks and are certain that their participation in a media stunt would not qualify them to go to war, about six million people registered in the campaign, titled “You are dealing with us.” The Persian phrase is literally translated as “I am your rival.”
The regime also organized and sponsored several events and rallies in numerous Iranian cities to garner support for its publicity campaign.
The campaign has been a source of ridicule on social media, where Iranians make fun of the regime loyalists who say they are eager to go to war despite being sure that is not possible. A large number of people wish that the volunteers would actually go to the war so that Iran is rid of such regime sympathizers.
Even if travel to Gaza was possible, Iranians cannot legally go there because to get to Gaza they have to go through Israel, which is not an option for anyone with an Iranian passport. And even if the Islamic Republic opts to engage in the conflict, the IRGC members and members of its extraterritorial wing Quds Force are the natural candidates and not ordinary civilians.
“We knew you wouldn't go," political commentator Ali-Hossein Ghazizadeh said on X (formerly twitter), claiming that these regime supporters who use their connections with regime insiders to fill their pockets would not leave the safety of their homes, let alone go to the war. “We wish for all of you to become martyrs,” he addressed the Hamas supporters, referring to a recent interview by the country’s culture minister, Mohammad-Mehdi Esmaili, who told the reporter to be ready to die in Gaza.
Asghar Sepehri, the brother of Iranian political prisoner Fatemeh Sepehri, has quipped that those who complain that they cannot go to Gaza because the borders are closed can ask Iran’s ruler Ali Khamenei to extend the war to Lebanon. “Ask the Supreme Leader to have Hezbollah of Lebanon also enter the war with Israel. Your deployment to Lebanon won't be a problem,” he said on X.
The spillover of the conflict has already reached the West Bank with limited artillery fire exchange between Israel and Hezbollah. Iranian authorities keep threatening that if the war extends to other fronts, they will engage in the war. Israel says if Hezbollah enters the war in a more significant and direct way than it already is, Israel will attack Iran.
Another social media post that resonated with Iranians and was widely retweeted pointed out that Basijis – a term used for IRGC’s volunteer forces – will never go to war because they are not used to fight with armed people, referring to the crackdown on protests that rocked Iran after the death in custody of a young woman last year.
“They're not used to facing an armed enemy, and they're afraid. Basijis only go where their opponents are 16-year-old girls and unarmed people who can be attacked and killed with guns and batons,” said an X user who posts under the name Moji.
A group of Iranians also held a gathering at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport, claiming that they are at the airport and ready to go to war. All Iranians know that Mehrabad Airport is only used for domestic flights, drawing large social media ridicule that these so-called Basijis are not even ready to take the longer trip to Imam Khomeini Airport, from where international flights depart.
Such false expressions of support for Hamas are not limited to Iran. Recently a video went viral of a Turkish reporter who asked people on streets if they were ready to go to the war. The interviewees say they are ready but immediately another man comes and asks about information and addresses of the people who expressed readiness. The short clip is widely circulated because none of those who claimed support for Hamas are actually willing to give their contact information to make it official.