Defending Reality Against the Age of Deception

On the morning of October 7, 2023, I, like many Israelis, woke to horror. Hamas had launched a brutal assault on our communities—massacring civilians, abducting families, and firing thousands of rockets at our cities. That day, Israel fought for its survival. But as the hours passed, I realized we were facing a second front—one less visible but equally dangerous. The war over truth had begun.

In the days that followed, my team and I worked around the clock. Our phones rang incessantly with calls from international partners. Some sought genuine information; others echoed questions born from lies spreading online. One falsehood, however, stood out—the explosion at Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza on October 17. Within minutes, global headlines blamed Israel. I remember the sinking feeling as I read the accusations. We knew the facts would surface, that evidence would show the blast was caused by a misfired rocket from Palestinian militants. But we also knew the truth was already trailing behind the lie.

This was not my first encounter with disinformation. Throughout my career, I have faced moments when the facts were inconvenient—when individuals sought to erase, distort, or manipulate reality for personal or political gain. I had stood firm then, knowing that the cost of surrendering the truth is always higher in the end. But October 7 was different. This was not merely a question of personal reputation or corporate integrity. This was the credibility of a nation under attack.

As Vice President of External Relations at Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), my team and I found ourselves with a dual responsibility—one that extended beyond our corporate mission. We were not only protecting the company’s reputation; we were defending Israel itself. We quickly realized that our global presence, with representatives stationed across multiple continents, could serve not only our business interests but also the national effort to combat misinformation.

Our task was urgent: to ensure that the world understood the reality of October 7—that Israel was exercising its fundamental right to defend its citizens. We prepared message kits for our teams worldwide, providing verified facts about Hamas’s atrocities, Israel’s defensive operations, and the IDF’s moral commitment to minimizing harm to civilians. We understood that misinformation did not merely threaten our company’s standing—it endangered Israel’s legitimacy on the global stage.

Our international partners sought answers—some out of genuine concern, others influenced by false reports. Just as IDF Spokesperson Brigadier General Daniel Hagari carries the mission of informing both the Israeli public and the global community with professionalism, credibility, and real-time accuracy, our team at IAI recognized that we had a similar duty. In an era of distorted narratives, we were not just spokespeople for a company—we were part of Israel’s broader effort to ensure that truth prevails.

Israel is not alone in this struggle. What happened to us is a warning to democracies everywhere. From Russian disinformation in Ukraine to election interference in the United States, the weaponization of falsehoods is eroding the foundation of free societies. The same forces that distorted reality in Gaza operate across Europe and America. Today, they seek to delegitimize Israel. Tomorrow, they will target others.

We live in an age where information spreads faster than facts can be verified. Reality is increasingly determined not by evidence, but by the volume of noise. Social media algorithms amplify bias, drown out contradiction, and blur the line between truth and fiction. Oxford’s selection of “post-truth” as the Word of the Year in 2016 was not an academic curiosity—it was a warning. Watergate (1972-1974) shattered American trust in government, and the News of the World hacking scandal (2011) shook public confidence in British journalism. But those were ruptures in the analog age. Today, the challenge is exponentially greater. When lies are algorithmically amplified, democracies stand on shakier ground.

But truth is not eroded only by those who spread lies. It is also undermined by those who remain silent. I have seen this firsthand. I have watched good people—out of fear, fatigue, or convenience—allow falsehoods to take root. I understand the instinct to retreat. Speaking up can come at a cost. I like, many senior figures who hold independent views and are unafraid to voice them, have faced attempts to undermine and silence me. Yet I have learned that the cost of silence is always far greater.

Leadership is tested not in moments of comfort, but in times of crisis. The strength of a democracy lies in its commitment to truth—even when it is difficult. The battle for defense is not confined to borders. It is fought in the public arena—on screens, in headlines, and across social platforms. Defending our homes and defending our credibility are part of the same struggle.

Truth will prevail—not because it is easy, but because it is essential. It is the backbone of democratic resilience. Abandoning it is not an option.

Leaders, journalists, and citizens must recognize their shared duty. We cannot afford hesitation. We must confront disinformation wherever it festers. A free society must never compromise on truth—for it is the foundation upon which all else stands.

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Shay Gal is a crisis communications specialist and an expert in information management during national emergencies. He has served as a spokesperson for government ministers in Israel and as Vice President of External Relations at Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI)