In a world where the term "influencer" is often synonymous with superficiality and vanity, occasionally, an individual emerges who uses this platform for a purpose beyond self-promotion.
This was the case with Zach Sage Fox, a Jewish American who, under the guise of an Italian, ventured into the West Bank to gauge the local support for Hamas. His findings were startling, yet not entirely unexpected.
Fox, a self-proclaimed Jewish American, was in Israel to generate content when a member of his team proposed a risky venture into the West Bank, accompanied by a Muslim producer and cameraman. Despite the potential dangers, Fox was intrigued by the opportunity, given the limited access American journalists typically have to Palestinians.
"Israelis are literally not allowed into Palestine; they're not allowed into the West Bank. However, I'm not Israeli, I'm an American Jew, and it doesn't say Jew on my passport. So, I was told, As long as you don't say you're Jewish, you know, they're not going to kill you on the spot," Fox shared with Fox News Digital, according to RedState.
Undeniably, this was a high-stakes endeavor. Fox, however, managed to convincingly portray himself as of Italian descent, gaining entry into the West Bank. His mission was to interact with the locals and assess their support for Hamas and its actions against Israel.
Fox's West Bank journey began with a pre-scheduled interview with a man introduced to him by his Muslim producer as a "very smart and civil," "somewhat moderate" intellectual who held a Masters degree and was fluent in English. The interview took place in a coffee shop in Ramallah, the Palestinian "capital" near Jerusalem.
The man denied the killing of "innocent Israelis" during the October 7 attacks, voiced support for Hamas, and dismissed the occurrence of rape during the brutal attacks.
"I realized quickly, if this is someone being presented to me as one of the more educated people, I might be in for a real shock," Fox admitted.
Indeed, Fox's experience was shocking, as has been the realization for many Americans about the lengths to which these individuals are willing to go, and the surprising number of young Americans who are prepared to back them.
Fox's Italian disguise held up, allowing him to leave the West Bank unscathed. Had his true Jewish identity been discovered, he might have faced the same fate as the hostages of the October 7 incident.
The situation escalated when Fox attempted to interview a woman.
Despite his self-proclaimed status as a "social media influencer," Fox's daring venture into the West Bank has earned him the title of a journalist. His revelations are significant. The individuals he interviewed, particularly the mob that threatened him during his attempt to interview a woman, are far from the definition of civilized. Civilized individuals do not wish death upon their neighbors, support those who commit atrocities, deny such atrocities when they occur, or endorse those who engage in mass rape, mass murder, and unthinkable acts of cruelty.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during his speech at the U.S. Capitol last week, characterized the ongoing conflict as a battle between civilization and barbarity. His words ring true, especially in light of Zach Sage Fox's harrowing experience in the West Bank.
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