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Two prominent Palestinian Gen Z creators in the diaspora, Hamzah Saadah (@Absorberyt) and Belal Nassar (@Bfendyy), are using social media platforms like TikTok LIVE and Ome.TV (an alternative to Omegle) to engage in conversations with Israelis and IDF soldiers inside Israel.
For the first time, this new phenomenon allows the world to hear directly from Israeli youth and the mouths of IDF soldiers.
These interactions are then shared online, revealing deeply unsettling exchanges for the world to witness, as they shed light on the stark realities of the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Gamer, digital creator, and aspiring actor Hamzah — who, over recent years, has acquired seven million followers and 164 million likes on TikTok — often leaves viewers speechless after sharing viral clips of his hour-long conversations with the Israeli public.
In a podcast interview with comedian Sammy Obeid, Hamzah expressed concerns about potentially losing followers and even friends if he revealed his Palestinian identity.
Following October 7, one of his first interactions was with two IDF soldiers, where he asked them why Israel was bombing Gaza and questioned the death toll of children.
“I wish [the] IDF [would] kill more children,” the soldiers laughed. Pointing rifles at the camera, they continued with further inflammatory language and profanities, warning Hamzah that he would be next.
Within an hour of sharing this one-minute-long video on TikTok, it gained two million views, but it was immediately taken down.
Hamzah says he tried many more times to upload it to TikTok, but claims it kept getting censored. Eventually, he shared the viral encounter on his Instagram and YouTube instead, leaving viewers horrified yet intrigued by what they had witnessed.
The video reached far and wide, even to those who had never heard about Palestine before October 7, 2023.
Using humour to expose Israel's dark side
Palestinian-American creator and aspiring actor Belal adopts a unique approach in his equally unsettling conversations with the Israeli public and IDF soldiers.
By using satire and improv through an ambiguous persona he created, known as Dalton, he addresses serious issues in a way that surprises his audience.
In most of his interactions, he begins by expressing sympathy for Israel to encourage conversation. He then sarcastically states, "Ana Gazawi" (which translates to "I am a Gazan") and asks whether the Israelis could “check on his family in Gaza” or “bring food” for the Palestinians facing forced starvation.
When Belal makes these remarks, the responses are often met with silence and confusion, a barrage of questions regarding his Palestinian identity, or even distressing verbal abuse. At one point, some IDF soldiers even ask if he truly understands the meaning of Zionism.
"These two gentlemen are taking us away from the blood and gore and showing us the mentality of the generation who will be leading the country within the next five to ten years"
During a podcast talk with Aalia Lanius, Executive Producer and host of UNSUGARCOATED with Aalia, Belal revealed that after October 7, he wanted to hear “their (the Israeli) side,” and by merging his acting skills with his Palestinian identity, he believes he was able to reach his goal: “to expose them, how bold and blatant they were about their crimes, the genocide, and what they do to children.”
Belal further explained that initially, he didn't think he could handle what he was hearing, “but it has now become the norm.” However, he stated that these conversations often leave him feeling heartbroken: “As hard as it is to hear those things, my heart is broken, but I keep pulling at it.”
He also noted that it is a humbling experience to see how these conversations are bringing laughter in a time of hardship, not only to other Palestinians and supporters but also to his family in Gaza. “When they see me aggravating them, it gives them relief.”
Aiman Kaissouni, an actor and the TV host of an upcoming Pan-Arab satire show, tells The New Arab that young creators, actors, and characters like Dalton bring forth a new point of view.
“I like that I can see different perspectives of the information. These two gentlemen are taking us away from the blood and gore and showing us the mentality of the generation who will be leading the country within the next five to ten years,” Aiman explained.
A wake-up call to the everyday reality of Palestinians
The New Arab reached out to followers of both Hamzah and Belal to understand what drew them to this type of content.
From Southern California, Mea Marie, a Mexican Native American and Privacy and Security digital creator, discovered both Hamzah and Belal while scrolling on TikTok.
She admits that before October 7, she knew nothing about Palestine and says she initially fell for the Hasbara propaganda, feeling “horrified” after learning about the history and conditions of Palestinians in Occupied Palestine.
“I couldn't believe anything I was reading… sound bombs to torment people, holding children in military detention centres, and not allowing them to write to lawyers,” she told The New Arab.
“I loved the way Hamzah addresses the Israelis; he was always kind and genuine and posed questions to get them to question themselves… he would also ask tough questions,” Mea adds.
“We didn’t cross the borders; the borders crossed us,” which is a very common saying in the Hispanic community. As an indigenous person, she feels a deep connection with the people of Palestine: “Our stories crossed paths,” she expressed.
Since opening her eyes to Palestine, she has dedicated her social media platforms to educating her followers about the genocide in Gaza.
Disturbing revelations
For the past 12 months, Hamzah has shared numerous similar conversations, ranging from Israeli youths exposing their love-hate relationship towards him to ex-IDF soldiers admitting to allegedly “selling drugs” and “human trafficking Russian women.”
By sharing these clips, the content creator says he hopes to raise more awareness about Palestine and provide insight into the mindset of the Israeli public.
“Hello, Israeli soldier, how many Palestinians have you killed?” Hamzah asked in another one of his virtual encounters.
“What?” replied the IDF soldier stationed inside Israel. He then waved his hand, looked at the camera, and nonchalantly said, “20.”
For those all too familiar with the 76-year-long occupation and settler colonialism, these conversations, although disturbing, simply aren’t that surprising.
Lara Elborno, a Palestinian-American international lawyer, states, “Their remarks indeed shock the conscience but are not surprising. There was a poll [in January 2024] by Tel Aviv University which found that the majority of Jewish Israelis felt that Israel was either not using enough force or was using adequate force in Gaza — only a minority felt that Israel had gone too far.”
She further explains that this normalisation of the infliction of suffering on Palestinians did not arise in a vacuum.
"We have to remember that Palestinians have not lived a single day free on their land in the last 76 years. Our right to self-determination has been systematically denied by Israel for the benefit of its settler-colonial aims.”
"These viral clips with Gen Z creators are just further proof of the dehumanisation of Palestinians among Israelis"
On August 18, a recent poll published by the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies showed that a majority of Israelis opposed criminal prosecution for soldiers suspected of raping Palestinian detainees, highlighting a concerning trend in public opinion.
"We must consider how we have heard various Israeli public figures — from musicians, talk show hosts, and journalists to soldiers and high-ranking government officials — make hundreds of statements of genocidal intent,” Lara adds.
“These viral clips with Gen Z creators are just further proof of the dehumanisation of Palestinians among Israelis.”
To date, Israel’s war has killed nearly 42,000 people, according to the Palestinian health authorities.
Azraa Muthy is a photographer and multilingual journalist with a background in investigative journalism
Follow the Middle East's top stories in English at The New Arab on Google News
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