by Charles Moore, Telegraph
As poisonous conspiracy theories multiply on social media, a report led by the historian Lord Roberts lays bare the terrible facts
In modern times, the much greater availability of photographic, video and audio evidence, of DNA and other forensic tests, and the ease with which such evidence can be disseminated ought to help discover true facts. Yet the opposite often happens.
All day, every day, social media pullulates with pictures, recordings etc purporting to prove something. These are frequently lies, but many people, even decent people, believe them and pass them on.
Nowhere is this more apparent than over Israel/Palestine, an issue in which the bastard progeny of Holocaust denial flourish. On October 7 2023, the worst massacres of Jews since 1945 were committed in numerous sites in Israel, near its Gaza border. The day’s death toll was 1,141, from 44 nations, plus more than 200 kidnapped and held hostage.
Video, often on body-worn cameras, texts and phone calls, recorded these attacks. These records were made by the exultant murderers as well as the terrified victims. (Sometimes, in a horrible twist, the attackers used the mobiles of those they had killed or captured to lure their relations towards a similar fate.)
The mass of evidence from first responders, medical services, the Israeli army, police, independent media and survivors also accumulated. Yet immediately the denials began.
See also: The truth about 7 October, spiked podcast