In the midst of the ongoing Gaza conflict, a troubling revelation has come to light regarding certain Twitter accounts that promote hate speech and misinformation while also exploiting the turmoil for personal gain. These accounts, including @CensoredMen, @ShaykhSulaiman, @jakeshieldsajj, @RyLiberty, and @DrLoupis, have been identified as disseminators of anti-LGBTQ+ content and are now using the conflict to increase their follower count and monetized engagement.
Exploiting Tragedy for Personal Gain
@CensoredMen, initially created to defend anti-LGBTQ+ misogynist Andrew Tate, has been accused of inflating casualty numbers in the Gaza conflict. This account’s history includes opposition to drag queens, transgender student-athletes, and what it labels as the “LGBTQ agenda.” Meanwhile, Sulaiman Ahmed, who has also faced allegations of inflating casualty figures, has a history of posting transphobic content and accusing LGBTQ+ allied teachers of inappropriate actions towards schoolchildren. Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, Ahmed’s Twitter followers have skyrocketed from 88,000 to 206,000.
Jake Shields, another account involved in this disturbing trend, has consistently posted against LGBTQ+ individuals, claiming they are involved in “grooming” and promoting “trans ideology.” He has also recently shared content from antisemitic white supremacist Nick Fuentes, falsely accusing the Israeli government of genocide.
Ryan Dawson, banned from YouTube, has posted a video baselessly accusing the Israel Defense Forces of orchestrating an attack on concertgoers to initiate hostilities with Palestine. Dawson has a history of posting against trans individuals, accusing pro-LGBTQ+ Israelis of being “trans-semite,” and praising Palestinians for not waving what he derogatorily calls the “AIDS flag.” He also aligns himself with far-right anti-LGBTQ+ conspiracy theorist Stew Peters.
Dr. Anastasia Maria Loupis, @DrLoupis, has gained approximately 240,000 followers in the past month. She recently made claims that Jewish pharmaceutical executives who aided in developing the COVID-19 vaccine are supporting the military conflict in Gaza. Loupis has previously made posts against what she refers to as the “trans agenda.”
Co-opting the Palestinian Cause
These Twitter accounts have cynically co-opted the Palestinian cause, using it to solicit funds, signal to extremists, and frame their antisemitism as “anti-Zionist” criticism of Israel. Moreover, some of these individuals are profiting from subscription services and being compensated by Twitter based on the level of engagement their posts generate from paying users. As more people turn to Twitter for real-time updates on the ongoing conflict, there is a risk that they might inadvertently mistake these right-wing anti-LGBTQ+ figures for credible news sources.
The fact that such activities are occurring on Twitter is not entirely surprising. The platform’s owner, Elon Musk, has taken a contentious stance against watchdog organizations that expose the proliferation of hate speech on the platform since his takeover. As the Gaza conflict continues, it becomes increasingly critical to discern reliable sources from those who exploit the situation for their own divisive agendas.