Activists launch global 'They Lied to You' campaign to expose ongoing Gaza suffering

Activists have launched a digital campaign under the hashtag "They Lied to You" in an effort to bring the suffering in Gaza back to the forefront of global attention. (Photo/Reuters)

Activists have launched a digital campaign under the hashtag "They Lied to You" in an effort to bring the suffering in Gaza back to the forefront of global attention.

They stressed that the decline in international media coverage of events in the blockaded enclave does not mean that the genocidal war has ended or that the suffering of its residents has stopped.

The campaign, launched in Arabic and English on 16 July, included journalists, humanitarian workers, children from Gaza and Arab and foreign supporters.

Through video clips and written posts, activists sought to bring renewed attention to scenes of Palestinians being killed by Israel and to multiple forms of suffering caused by starvation, displacement and disease.

Their aim was to challenge the widespread impression that the ceasefire agreement in force since 10 October 2025 had ended the war and the humanitarian tragedy.

The campaign coincided with an escalation in Israeli attacks on Gaza, that killed and wounded dozens of Palestinians, among them children and women.

Conditions worsened as Israel failed to fulfil obligations stipulated in the ceasefire agreement, including reopening the crossings and allowing agreed quantities of food, relief and medical aid to enter.

Ground realities

Activists urged the world to act to save what remains of Gaza as Israel increased the pace of destruction and expanded its occupation of the territory to 70 percent of its total area, contrary to the agreement, which provided for Israeli military control of only 53 percent.

"They lied to you when they said there was a ceasefire in Gaza. What kind of ceasefire is this when children are still being killed, homes are being bombed, tents are being targeted, and families are grieving every day?" said Civil Defence spokesperson Mahmoud Basal, who took part in the campaign on the social media platform X.

"A genuine ceasefire means that the killing stops, the bombardment falls silent, children sleep without fear, and people return to their lives."

Children also participated with videos reflecting their suffering.

"They lied to you and said the war was over. There is still war, hunger, destruction, bombardment, and the loss of loved ones," said a Palestinian child connected to medical tubes in a hospital.

Israel has killed 1,127 Palestinians and wounded 3,643 others in its violations of the ceasefire agreement.

The genocide has left more than 73,000 people killed and over 173,000 wounded since 8 October 2023.

Source: TRT