Body of Lies: Dead Men CAN Tell Tales as Hamas Returns ‘Hostage’ that is not Israeli
When news broke that Hamas had “returned” the body of an Israeli hostage, Israel and the world reacted with horror and heartbreak. But emerging evidence suggests the story was a staged deception — the body may not have been an Israeli at all, but that of a Palestinian Arab, possibly dressed in an IDF uniform or otherwise misidentified to manipulate public perception.
This chilling propaganda tactic bears striking resemblance to Nazi psychological warfare, in which false visuals and fabricated narratives were used to confuse, demoralize, and divide. The manipulation of tragedy — presenting one’s own as the enemy — is a grotesque form of narrative control that turns death itself into a weapon.
David Rubin, former Mayor of Shiloh, Israel, and founder of the Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund, knows this kind of psychological terrorism firsthand. He and his young son narrowly survived a Hamas terror attack — both were wounded but lived to tell their story. Rubin has spent decades observing how Hamas blends brutality with media manipulation, often staging scenes to provoke sympathy or outrage in ways that obscure their culpability. He warns that this latest incident fits a long pattern of deception.
“Hamas knows the world watches images, not evidence,” Rubin notes. “They create stories designed to reverse the roles of victim and aggressor. The Nazis did it. ISIS did it. And Hamas continues it — on repeat.”
Joining Rubin in unpacking this disturbing turn is Pamela Azaria, International Development Director for ChimesIsrael. Also living in Israel, Azaria has seen suffering in the region firsthand. Her organization has a rehabilitation center that’s just across the border from Gaza and the horrible images of October 7th are still fresh in her mind. “Returning a deceased Palestinian disguised as an Israeli soldier is wrong on so many fronts,” she said. It’s a macabre form of gaslighting.
Bob Scott, the Ministry Engagement Director for Christians United for Israel is also on-hand to discuss these events from a Christian perspective. Though not in Israel, his perspective is in line with pro-Israeli views.
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Joshua Philipp, Senior Investigative Reporter with The Epoch Times. With years of reporting on global geopolitics and information warfare, Philipp can explain how Hamas’s tactics align with broader strategies used by state and non-state actors to sway international opinion through staged narratives and emotional manipulation.
Together, Rubin, Azaria, and Philipp can dissect not only what happened, but why — why Hamas would use such a cruel ruse at this delicate stage of the Gaza conflict, and how such disinformation tactics aim to fracture Israel’s moral standing while inflaming world sentiment against it.
Body not Israeli
This story isn’t just about a misidentified body. It’s about the ongoing war for truth — and how Hamas continues to weaponize perception itself.
David Rubin is the founder of the Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund and maintains the website www.IsraelChildren.org
Rubin is also the author of Trump and The Jews.
Related Article(s)
Israel says one of the bodies handed over by Hamas is not that of a hostage | AP News
Optional Q&A:
- What evidence suggests the body turned over by Hamas was not actually that of an Israeli hostage?
- Why would Hamas risk exposure by staging such a deception, and what do they gain from it?
- How does this kind of psychological manipulation compare to Nazi-era propaganda tactics?
- In your view, how has Hamas historically used staged or misleading visuals to shape international opinion?
- What was your personal experience surviving a Hamas terror attack, and how does it inform your perspective on their media strategies today?
- How should Israel and the international press respond when Hamas pushes false narratives like this one?
- From a geopolitical standpoint, how does this incident fit into the broader information war playing out between Israel, Hamas, and their global backers?
- What message do you think this episode sends to the world about Hamas’s evolving strategy — and the danger of taking their claims at face value?
- Where can we learn more about you and the Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund?
- www.IsraelChildren.org (treating the victims of terror)
www.DavidRubinIsrael.com (to find out more about David’s many books)
www.ConfrontingRadicals.com (the movie)
- www.IsraelChildren.org (treating the victims of terror)
ABOUT DAVID RUBIN…
David Rubin, former Mayor of Shiloh Israel, is the author of seven books, including his latest, Confronting Radicals: What America Can Learn from Israel, which has recently been made into a movie. Rubin is the founder and president of Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund, established after he and his then three-year-old son were wounded in a terror attack.
Websites:
www.IsraelChildren.org (treating the victims of terror)
www.DavidRubinIsrael.com (to find out more about David’s many books)
www.ConfrontingRadicals.com (the movie)
ABOUT PAMELA AZARIA…
Residing in Israel, with a center a stone’s throw from Gaza, Pamela Azaria has over 35 years of expertise in business development, fundraising, and marketing communications. As International Development Director for ChimesIsrael, a dynamic 34-year-old nonprofit with 26 centers across the country, Pamela drives efforts to raise awareness and capital to support the organization’s mission of improving the lives of people with disabilities.
She builds meaningful relationships with global donors, aligning their philanthropic interests with the specific needs of Chimes Israel’s diverse programs. These include early childhood rehabilitation centers, afterschool programs, adult vocational college, employment programs, adult nursing daycare, and mental health support. Her work primarily focuses on securing resources for special programs that aren’t covered by the state but are essential for the well-being of individuals with disabilities.
When war broke out, Pamela spearheaded Chimes Israel’s fundraising response to the crisis. As the Homefront Command ordered Chimes’ centers to close, Pamela quickly mobilized resources for families in Ashkelon, who were trapped in air raid shelters under constant rocket fire. With remarkable efficiency, Pamela raised hundreds of thousands of dollars from more than 50 donors across North America, including the Jewish Federations of North America, Broward County, and Chicago. This funding enabled Chimes Israel to provide life-saving resources:
- physical therapy equipment was delivered to homes
- laptops and iPads were distributed for remote learning
- supermarket gift cards helped families meet their basic needs.
The emergency fund also funded staff resilience training to help them cope with the stresses of wartime conditions. Before joining Chimes Israel, Pamela honed her skills in marketing communications as the senior global marketing manager for a prominent Tel Aviv-based global training management software provider. There, she managed the company’s global users’ summit, organized its tradeshow presence, wrote winning proposals, and oversaw all media, digital and print communications.
Earlier in her career, Pamela worked for global consulting firms in New York, Chicago, and Detroit, developing sales strategies and marketing communications materials that contributed to an average annual sales growth of $9 million. In addition to her work with Chimes Israel, Pamela is the principal of Celebrations in Israel, where she organizes memorable events for visitors, and Azaria Consulting, offering marketing communications and event management services. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in journalism from New York University.
ABOUT BOB SCOTT…
Bob Scott serves as the Ministry Engagement Director for Christians United for Israel, leading a team of coordinators across the country as well as being a national speaker for CUFI. His work focuses on connecting and resourcing pastors and churches and facilitates CUFI’s grassroots efforts within the Christian and Jewish communities. Before becoming Ministry Engagement Director, he served as City Director and then State Coordinator of Tennessee and has been involved in educating others and supporting Israel since his first trip there in 2008.
Bob has served in full-time ministry since 1992 in various pastoral roles, statewide boards, and ministries, with experience in church planting and serving his community as a commissioned police officer and chaplain, certified in Crisis Intervention and Critical Incident Debriefing. Bob is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a Business Degree and has had governmental experience in local and statewide areas. Bob and his wife, Holly, have been married since 1995 and have three adult sons.
As the largest pro-Israel organization in the United States, with over 10 million members, Christians United for Israel (CUFI) is the foremost Christian organization educating and empowering millions of Americans to speak and act with one voice in defense of Israel and the Jewish people. CUFI’s diversity across political, ethnic, generational and denominational lines maximizes our impact in communities, in the media, on campus, and in our nation’s capital. CUFI is committed to confronting indifference and combating antisemitism in all its forms wherever it may be found.
JOSHUA PHILIPP BIO
Joshua Philipp is an award-winning journalist and Senior Investigative Reporter at The Epoch Times. He is the host of ‘Crossroads,’ a news and analysis program on EpochTV. His works have included breakthrough investigations into the origins of Covid-19 and the Wuhan laboratory in the early days of the pandemic. He spearheaded the first documentary on the lab leak origins of the COVID-19 virus, released in April 2020. This groundbreaking documentary garnered over 75 million views, and while many tried to label it misinformation, its findings have since been vindicated by the White House and US intelligence agencies.
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ABOUT CHAVA KLEINMAN (HAVE-ah)…
Chava Kleinman, M.S.W., is a social worker with over 25 years of experience in Israel, now serving as vice-president of Shiloh Israel Children’s Fund (SICF). Chava is in charge of coordinating SICF’s vast array of crisis intervention initiatives. Especially since the October 7th massacre of Israeli civilians, but also during previous waves of terrorism, she has been on the front lines, offering critical expertise to support affected individuals and communities.
Chava’s professional expertise is complemented by a personal connection to the challenges of war and terrorism faced by Israeli families. She is a mother and wife of IDF soldiers. This experience has further fueled her compassionate leadership and unwavering commitment to resilience and healing.
In addition to her hands-on work in the field, Chava is also an accomplished author, educator, and international presenter. For more information, www.israelchildren.org
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