Gaza / Anadolu

In an attempt to bring the suffering of the Gaza Strip back to the forefront of global attention, activists launched a digital campaign under the hashtag "They Lied to You," stressing that the decline in international media coverage of the Strip's events does not mean the end of the genocide war or the halt of its residents' suffering.

The campaign, which was launched in both Arabic and English on July 16, brought together journalists, humanitarian workers, children from Gaza, as well as Arab and foreign supporters.

Through video clips and written posts, activists sought to bring back to the forefront scenes of Israeli killing of Palestinians and multiple forms of suffering—starvation, displacement, and disease—in an effort to break the prevailing impression that the ceasefire agreement in effect since October 10, 2025, had ended the war and tragedy.

The campaign coincided with an escalation by the Israeli army of its attacks on the Gaza Strip through shelling and assassination operations, resulting in the killing and injury of dozens of Palestinians, including children and women.

This field escalation was accompanied by ongoing suffering from displacement, hunger, and lack of proper medical treatment, exacerbated by Israel's backtracking on its obligations under the agreement, including opening crossings and allowing the agreed quantities of food, relief, and medical aid.

The activists called on the world to act to save what remains of Gaza, as the pace of destruction and Israeli occupation of the Strip's lands increased, reaching 70 percent of its total area, contrary to the agreement which stipulated only 53 percent army control.

** Debunking the Ceasefire Narrative

Civil Defense spokesperson Mahmoud Basal participated in the campaign, saying: 'They lied to you when they said there was a ceasefire in Gaza. What kind of ceasefire is this when children are still being killed, homes bombed, tents targeted, and families bereaved every day?'

He added, in a post on his page on the American platform 'X': 'A real ceasefire means that death stops, shelling ceases, children sleep without fear, and life returns to people. But in Gaza, the raids continue, and civilians are still paying the price day after day, despite talk of calm.'

He called for not allowing 'misleading news to obscure the truth.'

Under the same hashtag, a viral skit spread showing an activist receiving a punch to the face, covering his mouth with black tape, and holding a sign that read 'The war is over.'

After a few seconds, he removed the tape from his mouth and turned the sign to reveal the other side: the hashtag 'They Lied to You.'

For his part, Palestinian Osaid al-Kahlout said in a viral video clip: 'They lied to you, they said the scene was over. Gaza became behind the news. The sound of shelling faded. But the reality we live in is different.'

He added: 'The sounds of explosions continue, the effects of destruction, the suffering of families, and the anxiety of children who still live under war, destruction, shelling, and cannon fire.'

He added: 'The story is not over (...) Gaza is not a number in a news bulletin, and its people are not a fleeting headline. The truth remains present no matter how long the silence lasts. They lied to you, and some of you believed the narrative. The world must wake up.'

In a related context, Palestinian activist Ghazi Mohi wrote on his page on the American platform 'X': 'The problem is not that they lied to you; the problem is that you loved to believe them.'

Similarly, Palestinian activist Ahmed Murtaja denounced the repeated media talk about a ceasefire in Gaza, saying: 'Families are still losing their children, children are being pulled from under the rubble. How can anyone say the war is over?'

** Testimonies of Children in Gaza

Children participated in the campaign with video clips reflecting their suffering, in an attempt to make their voices heard and to emphasize that the tragedy has not ended despite the ceasefire.

A Palestinian child connected to medical tubes in a hospital appeared in a video posted by the 'Palestinian Information Center' page, saying: 'They lied to you and said the war is over. There is still war, hunger, destruction, shelling, and loss of loved ones and neighbors.'

He added: 'Liars are those who say the war is over.'

Activist Obeida Ouda also posted a video of a group of children, some of whom said, 'They lied to you, they didn't treat us,' while others said, 'They lied to us (and to you). We didn't learn.'

** 'The Genocide Continues'

In a related context, Arab and foreign supporters participated in the campaign. Moroccan writer Hassan Benajah said in a post on the American platform 'X,' commenting on the campaign: 'They lied to you, a hashtag campaign to debunk the claim that the war on Gaza is over. The genocide continues, so let us continue to support Gaza.'

The owner of an account named 'Fatima,' who identifies herself as from Yemen, wrote in a post on the same platform: 'They lied to you, because the truth is still being written with the blood of innocents.'

Activist Zara Mufti, who says she is from Pakistan, also participated in the campaign, saying: 'The genocide continues. Do not stop talking about Palestine.' Meanwhile, the owner of an account named 'Sita,' who identifies herself as European, called for 'not ignoring the suffering of Palestinians.'

According to the latest data from the Gaza Ministry of Health, Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement had resulted in the deaths of 1,127 Palestinians and injuries to 3,643 others as of Thursday.

The agreement was reached after two years of a genocide war that Israel launched on October 8, 2023, with American support, and which later continued in various forms, leaving more than 73,000 dead and over 173,000 injured, as well as massive destruction affecting 90 percent of civilian infrastructure.