Israel's government has a dedicated department set up to shape international public opinion and to counter those who campaign against their genocidal actions. It is known as ‘hasbara’. In 2025 its budget was $150 million. The budget for 2026 is said to be set at over $730 million. It is certainly money spent, but money well spent?
I am intrigued that I have suddenly acquired so many Facebook ‘friends’ and that so many of them clearly hate me and what I am writing about. I have been checking similar posts to mine and found the same comments posted on their Palestine hunger striker blogs. Indeed with exactly the same words, but many under different names. One of these, and with many more ‘hits’ than mine, is Eamomm McCann’s.
You don’t have to be a 21st century Sherlock Holmes to conclude these ‘comments’ are emerging from one source and paid for from that 2026 $730 million budget. Here are just some of them. Of course I could delete them from my facebook, but their vitriol and crude hatred should be read and shared.
A note to Hasbara: You need to put a little of this year’s budget into logically constructing your lies.
Give them bacon butties - missing every other meal is not a hunger strike – grave situation, it soon will be – Munch! Munch! - FS get her deliveroo – hope she’s a winner of the nunger strike olympics - special treatment for suspected criminal – hurry up and croak – they need to put their big boy/girl pants on. Play stupid games you win stupid prizes. - not heroes but cowards. They broke into military bases – delusional puppets – we don’t care – Awwwww – fuckwits for Palestine - criminals who should be force fed – get on with it - hurry up – win some, lose some - it’s just comical! Yer heart just pumps purple piss! - I have a bacon butty to gift – put them on a plane to Gaza - brainless idiots showing photos of the only fit bird amongst them – fuck the hunger strikers – goodbye – time she pulled the plug and give everybody some rest – slimmer of the year – what’s brave about it. Terrorist supporters – order a coffin with that there pizza - the real tragedy here is that leftists have radicalised her so badly that she's willing to die for a pretend genocide - What are her measurements?? I will start making the coffin -when’s the Wake David - it's like a toddler holding its breath because it's not getting its own way - hurry up and shuffle off so we won't keep having to read about your ‘hunger strike’ – just get on with it - Bye bye – sooner the better
Posted on my facebook on 13 January 2026
Heba Muraisi, a Palestine Action activist and the longest-fasting hunger striker of a group of eight, has told Al Jazeera that she no longer feels hunger, is suffering with pain and knows that her death may be imminent. The 31-year-old responded to questions via a friend who regularly visits her in prison. “Physically, I am deteriorating as the days go by. I no longer feel hunger, I feel pain. I don’t think about my life, I think about how or when I could die, but despite this, mentally I’ve never been stronger, more determined and sure, and most importantly, I feel calm and a great sense of ease. Even though the risks may be lifelong consequences or a devastating end, I think it’s important to fight for justice and for freedom.”
I attended all the London protests in support of these brave people until the day I was pushed over a barrier in Parliament Square by the Met police. As an 80 year old epileptic I could not continue. But if and when Heba and/or the others die I will be on the streets. Maybe David Lammy will rediscover his humanity and this will not happen. If it does, will you join me?
