# 131: Good Toda'a, with Mohammad Alsaafin

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1qmrqAkQD0
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/S1qmrqAkQD0
Generated: 2025-08-07T23:01:03.15+00:00

---
## Quick Overview

The "Bad Hasbara" podcast episode "Good Toda'a, with Mohammad Alsaafin" critically examines Israel's public relations (Hasbara) strategies, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, arguing that their messaging is failing due to its reliance on outdated tactics and a disconnect from on-the-ground realities, while also highlighting the power of social media and direct testimonies in countering official narratives. Journalist Mohammad Alsaafin shares personal experiences of living under occupation and details the escalating destruction in Gaza, contrasting it with previous conflicts and critiquing Western media's often uncritical amplification of Israeli government talking points.

**Key Points:**
- Journalist Mohammad Alsaafin argues that Israel's "Hasbara" (public relations) strategy is failing because it relies on outdated tactics and is disconnected from the reality on the ground, particularly concerning the scale of destruction in Gaza.
- Alsaafin details his personal experiences living under occupation in Palestine, including arbitrary arrests without charge and restrictions on movement that impact daily life and relationships.
- The podcast critically examines Israel's shift from "Hasbara" to "Toda'a" (awareness/consciousness) in its messaging, noting that the term "Hasbara" has become a liability.
- The hosts and Alsaafin criticize Western media for often uncritically repeating Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) talking points and framing the conflict as a "war against Hamas" rather than a demolition campaign.
- Alsaafin highlights the unprecedented scale of destruction in Gaza since October 2023, stating that entire cities have been leveled, a level of devastation not seen in previous conflicts.
- The episode emphasizes the growing influence of social media in bypassing traditional media gatekeepers, allowing direct testimonies and unfiltered footage from Gaza to challenge official narratives.
- The hosts and Alsaafin suggest that Israel is losing the media war because people are increasingly relying on social media and their own observations, finding the visual evidence of starvation and destruction in Gaza harder to justify than bombing campaigns.

**Context:** This episode of the "Bad Hasbara" podcast features journalist Mohammad Alsaafin, a former colleague of hosts Matt Leeb and Daniel Mate. The podcast is known for its critical stance on Israeli public relations and its support for Palestinian causes. Alsaafin, who lived in Palestine and studied there, shares his firsthand experiences with the occupation and its impact on daily life. The discussion centers on the effectiveness of Israel's media messaging (Hasbara) in the context of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, contrasting it with the power of social media and direct testimonies.

## Detailed Analysis

This episode of the "Bad Hasbara" podcast features journalist Mohammad Alsaafin discussing the evolution and perceived failure of Israel's public relations strategy, "Hasbara." The hosts, Matt Leeb and Daniel Mate, open with their usual banter, promoting upcoming shows and discussing the podcast's mission to counter narratives surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They introduce fake sponsors that direct listeners to Palestinian aid organizations, emphasizing the podcast's commitment to supporting Gaza. Alsaafin, a former colleague of the hosts from AJ Plus, shares his background, including living in Palestine and witnessing the daily humiliations of occupation and apartheid. He recounts incidents like students being arrested without charge and the military smashing car windows, illustrating the pervasive impact of these restrictions on life, including personal relationships. Alsaafin contrasts his experiences with Mate's Zionist summer camp background, highlighting differing perspectives. The core of the discussion revolves around the changing media landscape and Israel's PR crisis. Alsaafin notes that while previous wars on Gaza, like in 2008-2009 and 2014, were covered extensively, the current scale of destruction in Gaza since October 2023 is unprecedented, with entire cities leveled. He criticizes Western media for framing the conflict as a "war against Hamas" rather than acknowledging Israel's stated goal of demolition and collective punishment, often ignoring Israeli officials' direct statements about these intentions. The podcast highlights a shift in Israeli strategy, moving from "Hasbara" to "Toda'a" (awareness/consciousness), reflecting a recognition that the former term has become a liability. They discuss the use of influencers and celebrities in PR campaigns, likening it to political parties seeking endorsements, and criticize the Israeli government's reliance on these tactics. The hosts and Alsaafin dissect an article from "Times of Israel" detailing these PR challenges, including the "eighth front" of media warfare and the difficulties caused by the IDF's information bottleneck. They also touch upon the initial success of Israel's "atrocity porn" narrative in the first 100 days post-October 7th, which was amplified by figures like the US President, but argue this narrative has lost traction due to the overwhelming daily evidence of destruction and suffering from Gaza, disseminated through social media. The discussion emphasizes how social media has bypassed traditional gatekeepers, allowing direct testimonies and unfiltered footage from Gaza to challenge official Israeli narratives. The hosts lament the continued uncritical reporting by major Western media outlets, such as the New York Times, while noting a marginal improvement in some other outlets. They conclude that Israel is losing the media war because it can no longer control the narrative, as people are increasingly relying on their own eyes and ears through social media to discern the reality on the ground, particularly the stark visual evidence of starvation and widespread destruction, which are harder to justify than bombing campaigns.

### Podcast Introduction

- Hosts Matt Leeb and Daniel Mate discuss rebranding, upcoming shows in New York, and the podcast's mission
- Promotion of fake sponsors for Palestinian aid organizations
- Discussion of music and cultural commentary, including 80s political pop songs and record collecting

### Guest Introduction

- Journalist Mohammad Alsaafin introduced as a former colleague and fan of Daniel Mate
- Alsaafin's background and journey into journalism

### Personal Experiences of Occupation

- Alsaafin shares his experiences living in Palestine, detailing daily humiliations, arbitrary arrests, and movement restrictions
- Discussion on how these restrictions impact relationships and family life

### Analysis of Israeli PR (Hasbara)

- Evolution of Hasbara strategy from "Hasbara" to "Toda'a" (awareness)
- Critique of reliance on influencers and celebrities
- Discussion of the "eighth front" in Israel's media war and the failure of traditional PR tactics

### Scale of Destruction in Gaza

- Alsaafin describes unprecedented destruction in Gaza since October 2023, contrasting it with previous conflicts
- Critique of Western media's framing of the conflict as a "war against Hamas" vs. a demolition campaign

### Media's Role and Social Media's Impact

- Criticism of mainstream Western media for uncritically repeating IDF talking points
- Emphasis on social media's role in bypassing gatekeepers and disseminating unfiltered information
- Discussion on the declining trust in traditional media institutions

### The Power of Visual Evidence

- The impact of images and videos of starvation and destruction in Gaza
- Difficulty in justifying starvation compared to bombing campaigns
- The "well of horror porn" from October 7th has run dry, replaced by ongoing daily suffering