Palestinians launch #TheyLiedtoYou campaign to debunk Gaza 'ceasefire' narrative

What Happened

On 16 July, Palestinian activists launched a global digital campaign under the hashtags #TheyLiedToYou and #كذبوا_عليكم to challenge the perception that the October 2025 ceasefire agreement ended Israeli military operations in Gaza. The campaign, originating in Gaza, features live footage and testimonies of continued bombardments, displacement, starvation, and disease. Gaza journalist Hani Aburezeq claimed in a video that the war 'only ended on your screens,' while other users said the FIFA World Cup diverted attention from ongoing atrocities. Gaza’s government media office stated on Sunday that Israel committed 3,795 violations of the nominal ceasefire since October, killing at least 1,168 Palestinians. The Gaza health ministry reported that as of Tuesday, 73,293 Palestinians have been killed and 173,96 wounded since 7 October 2023, with thousands missing. Specific incidents include an Israeli attack on al-Yaman al-Saeed hospital in Jabalia refugee camp on Monday, killing at least two and wounding 16, and a separate strike on an electric bike near al-Zawaida killing one, according to Wafa and medical sources.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The campaign exposes a widening gap between the formal ceasefire framework and the lived reality in Gaza, where military operations, displacement, and a humanitarian crisis persist. By amplifying direct testimony and casualty data, it challenges international media narratives and diplomatic assurances, potentially eroding confidence in ceasefire mechanisms and increasing pressure on mediators—Qatar, Egypt, the United States—and the UN Security Council. The viral reach may also influence public opinion and litigation efforts at the ICJ and ICC, where the continuation of hostilities reinforces Palestinian claims of non-compliance.

Watch For

Watch for how the campaign affects diplomatic discourse: any formal responses from Israel, the US, Qatar, or Egypt; whether the UN Security Council addresses the alleged violations; and if international media adjust their framing of the Gaza situation. Also monitor the rollout of any independent verification of the 3,795 violations and new casualty figures, as well as the potential for escalated settler or military activity in the West Bank amid the refocused attention.