This is a first right? The IDF and Hamas tweeting at each other during an active conflict? Surreal.
—
RB (@RBPundit) November 14, 2012Since this morning’s IDF airstrike on Gaza that killed a Hamas military chief, Twitchy has kept you posted on all the latest developments in the escalating battle. But in a surreal twist, Israel and Hamas are also engaged in a volley of social media salvos. Who could have predicted that Twitter would play a role in modern warfare?
Al Qassam, Hamas’ paramilitary wing, is using its Twitter account to threaten the IDF:
We recommend that no Hamas operatives, whether low level or senior leaders, show their faces above ground in the days ahead.—
IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) November 14, 2012
@idfspokesperson Our blessed hands will reach your leaders and soldiers wherever they are (You Opened Hell Gates on Yourselves)—
Alqassam Brigades (@AlqassamBrigade) November 14, 2012
Al Qassam is also using Twitter to document its retaliatory efforts:
Al Qassam hit Isnad Sofa base with 6 mortars in response on assassination of its leader #AhmedJabari #Gaza #Israel #terror—
Alqassam Brigades (@AlqassamBrigade) November 14, 2012
Al Qassam shell an Intelligence base 8200 with dozens of mortars, 20:50 pm #gaza #gazaunderattack #hamas—
Alqassam Brigades (@AlqassamBrigade) November 14, 2012
At 21:00 pm, Al Qassam shell Hitzerim #Israeli airbase with 2 Grad missiles
#Gaza #Hamas #Gazaunderattack #terror #WestBank #Palestine—
Alqassam Brigades (@AlqassamBrigade) November 14, 2012
At 21:40 pm, Al Qassam reshelling Hitzerim #Israeli airbase with 4 Grad #Gaza #Hamas #Gazaunderattack #terror #WestBank—
Alqassam Brigades (@AlqassamBrigade) November 14, 2012
At 21:40 pm, Al Qassam shelling Isnad Sofa #Israeli military base with 12 Katyusha rockets #Gaza #Hamas #Gazaunderattack #terror #WestBank—
Alqassam Brigades (@AlqassamBrigade) November 14, 2012
At 21:50 pm, Al Qassam shelling Nir Itzhaq #Israeli military base with 5 mortars #Gaza #Hamas #Gazaunderattack #terror #WestBank #Palestine—
Alqassam Brigades (@AlqassamBrigade) November 14, 2012
At 21:55 pm, Al Qassam shelling intelligence #Israeli base with 8 projectiles #Gaza #Hamas #Gazaunderattack #terror #WestBank—
Alqassam Brigades (@AlqassamBrigade) November 14, 2012
At 21:55 pm, Al Qassam shelling Beer Sheva #Israeli military bases with 8 Grad projectiles #Gaza #Hamas #Gazaunderattack #terror #WestBank—
Alqassam Brigades (@AlqassamBrigade) November 14, 2012
At 22:50 pm, Al Qassam shelling Hitzerim #Israeli airbase with 2 Grad projectiles #Gaza #Hamas #Gazaunderattack #terror #WestBank #Palestine—
Alqassam Brigades (@AlqassamBrigade) November 14, 2012
At 22:50 pm, Al Qassam shelling Nahal Oz #Israeli base with 6 projectiles #Gaza #Hamas #Gazaunderattack #terror #WestBank—
Alqassam Brigades (@AlqassamBrigade) November 14, 2012
At 22:55 pm,Al Qassam shelling #Israeli military bases in occupied Ashdod with 2 projectiles #Gaza #Hamas #Gazaunderattack #terror #WestBank—
Alqassam Brigades (@AlqassamBrigade) November 14, 2012
Al Qassam: As initial response on the crime we shelled Israel's military bases with 100 projectiles.#gaza #Hamas #Palestine #GazaUnderattack—
Alqassam Brigades (@AlqassamBrigade) November 14, 2012
Al Qassam is vowing further retribution:
Al Qassam: Assassination of the great leader Ahmed al Jabari is the beginning of liberation war and ominous harbinger on sons of Zion #Gaza—
Alqassam Brigades (@AlqassamBrigade) November 14, 2012
Breaking News:Al Qassam Brigades shelling the occupied city of "Tel Aviv" with one homemade projectile for the first time>>more is coming—
Alqassam Brigades (@AlqassamBrigade) November 14, 2012
#PillarOfDefence would be beginning of liberation of the occupied Palestine, homeland of Palestinians, so we proudly paying our lives for—
Alqassam Brigades (@AlqassamBrigade) November 14, 2012
Twitterers are marveling at the fact that they’re watching a violent battle unfold over social media:
.@IDFSpokesperson and @AlqassamBrigades are tweeting like they're playing one of those "take turns" strategy war games.—
Andy Levy (@andylevy) November 14, 2012
I don't know if this is awesome or if armed conflict has taken a very very weird turn -> https://t.co/tr4g60wl—
RB (@RBPundit) November 14, 2012
What's the hashtag for the IDF vs Hamas Twitter fight?—
Olliander (@ollieblog) November 14, 2012
#WTF I think. RT @ollieblog: What's the hashtag for the IDF vs Hamas Twitter fight?—
(@BiasedGirl) November 14, 2012
IDF is live-tweeting its attack on #Hamas accompanied with images & video. Is this the next step in pol/crisis/war communication? #cmns432—
Léo Newman (@leo_now) November 14, 2012
Twitter, once used to report on war, is now used to declare it. #IDF #Hamas bit.ly/Qe2xVQ (via @michaelbd)—
Alex Bowles (@alexqgb) November 14, 2012
Hamas and the IDF duke it out on twitter too. Christ that's some weird shit.—
(@Rich45s) November 14, 2012
The world is insane. The IDF warned of an attack on Hamas…via twitter, then liveblogged the whole thing. I'm in shock right now.—
Tim B (@TB_Money) November 14, 2012
Totally surreal seeing the IDF (@idfspokesperson) and Hamas (@alqassambrigade) cuss each other on twitter—
Art (@ArtySej) November 14, 2012
Hamas: I will taunt you a second time!
IDF: One away.—
Drew (@MetricButtload) November 14, 2012
Hey, now the IDF and Hamas are fighting on twitter. Neat.—
S (@retconning) November 14, 2012
RT @lachlan: This IDF/Hamas twitter spat makes me wonder what Churchill/Hitler trolling would've looked like.—
J.P. Freire (@JPFreire) November 14, 2012
Would have made WWII more interesting if we could watch the Axis and the Allies tweeting at each other while it went on.—
Frank J. Fleming (@IMAO_) November 14, 2012
@CuffyMeh @AlexaShrugged @RBPundit if only the fights could stay on twitter.—
Brandon Stewart (@brandon_stewart) November 14, 2012
If only.
Update:
The IDF shoots back at Al Qassam’s claim that Tel Aviv has been hit.
Clarification: No rockets were fired from #Gaza on Tel-Aviv. #Hamas propaganda is constantly spreading misinformation.—
IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) November 14, 2012