Fox Nation - Timeline of Terror: Attack on Israel
A breakdown of Fox News propaganda from its streaming platform - Fox Nation
A week after the October 7th attack on Israel Fox News slapped together a quick documentary about the massacre and Israeli military response. Although it’s a relatively brief film at only 25 minutes it’s a classic example of propaganda.
The producers use emotional music underneath scenes of human carnage and Israeli airstrikes to whip up their audience to a fever pitch. Regardless of how a viewer might think about this war Fox makes no attempt to hide its bias towards Israel.
Most of the footage featured in the film is shot from location near the southern and northern borders of Israel by war correspondents working for Fox News. The images and scenes of death and destruction are compelling on their own. The added music with driving percussion isn’t needed. The dramatic soundtrack actually trivializes the human tragedy it’s meant to elevate.
Surprisingly President Biden, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pieere as well as Secretary of State Antony Blinken are shown as heroic characters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is presented as a fearless and unflinching leader.
There’s no attempt to explain the complex history or give any greater context to this decades-long conflict. At no point do the Fox News producers explain that part of the reason Hamas struck when it did was to exploit internal political divisions in Israel.
The film is broken up into the first days of the attack.
October 7, 2023
The date ‘October 7, 2023’ is plastered in white characters in the center of a black background as ominous music plays underneath. The next series of film clips include images of rockets shot from Gaza into Israel.
A map shows the path of Hamas forces as they infiltrate peaceful civilian areas. Fox used an alarming amount of homemade footage shot by the militants themselves.
I understand the need to show the brutality but it this is exactly what Hamas wanted - their footage of unspeakable atrocities broadcast to a worldwide audience.
At about three minutes into the film Benjamin Netanyahu is introduced. He stands in a navy suit with no tie and an Israeli flag pinned to his lapel before some unknown section of a city in Israel is blurred behind him. As he calmly speaks in Hebrew an English translator talks over his words.
During his brief speech a low bass is the main driver of the melody that sounds like a mournful dirge.
“I say, we're at war, not in an operation or in rounds, but at war. This morning, Hamas launched a murderous surprise attack against the state of Israel and its citizens. In the meantime, I call on the citizens of Israel to strictly adhere to the directives of the idiot and home front command. We are at war and we will win it.”
Most Fox News viewers would have no idea that Netanyahu was deeply unpopular before the war started or that hundreds of thousands of Israelis have protested against his government for several months.
He’s portrayed as an unflinching leader prepared to take on a vicious opponent.
The next few shots are of Israelis reacting to the events on October 7th, ambulances arrive to rural areas and helicopters fly overhead.
The producers then cut to a scene of U.S. President Joe Biden giving a speech behind the official White House lectern. As he speaks the music grows sinister even darker and stranger. The music is an odd choice given Biden’s remarks.
“Today, the people of Israel are under attack, orchestrated by a terrorist organization, Hamas. In this moment of tragedy, I want to say to them and to the world and to terrorists everywhere that the United States stands with Israel. We will not ever fail to have their back,” said Biden.
A drumbeat starts under the stringed instruments as a means to increase the intensity and immediacy of the narrative.
Netanyahu is shown again speaking directly to Israeli citizens only this time his words are translated with English captions on the screen. His words in Hebrew are loud and clear.
As he says his final words the director cuts to a close of his face.
“We will win.”
October 8, 2023
The day opens with a shot of a building in Gaza collapsing after it is hit by an Israeli airstrike. The next scene is Trey Yingst, a baby-faced 30-year-old Fox News war correspondent. He explains that the area he’s reporting from in southern Israel is being hit by rockets from Gaza.
Yingst also gives updates on the activity in the northern part of the country.
“The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah also joining the attacks, shelling along the northern border,” said Yingst
The percussion underneath the images whips up to a driving beat at the producers cut to Gilad Erdan the Israeli Ambassador to the UN.
“This is Israel's 911 and Israel will do everything to bring our sons and daughters back home.”
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