A disturbing video mocking the recent death of an Israeli civilian in a shark attack in Hadera has gone viral on major pro-Iranian regime Telegram channels, underscoring ongoing efforts to weaponize propaganda against Israelis and Jews. The video, created by a source in Gaza, was rapidly disseminated among pro-regime supporters in Iran, drawing condemnation for its callous and dehumanizing tone.
Barak Tzah, an Israeli citizen, was killed several days ago in a shark attack off the coast of Hadera. His accidental death was quickly exploited by hostile online actors, with the mocking video representing a wider pattern of psychological warfare conducted by Iranian-backed entities. Israeli security and cyber experts point to a coordinated infrastructure linking Gazan terror groups, including Hamas, with Iran’s digital propaganda apparatus. This synergy enables anti-Israel content to be rapidly adapted, translated, and promoted across regional social media platforms.
Analysts from Israel’s Ministry of Strategic Affairs and independent counterterrorism organizations have repeatedly highlighted Iran’s use of digital platforms to not only target Israeli public morale but also to rally supporters by glorifying violence and ridiculing civilian suffering. Telegram, with its broad reach and minimal moderation, has emerged as a central venue for these campaigns.
This incident is part of a broader pattern in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre—the deadliest antisemitic atrocity since the Holocaust—after which Iranian-backed information operations ramped up on multiple fronts. These include deliberate attempts to trivialize Israeli loss, justify or celebrate acts of terror, and reinforce extremist solidarities between Gaza-based terrorists and regime loyalists in Iran and beyond.
Israeli government officials condemned the video, stressing that such content is not only morally abhorrent but also bridges ideological and operational alliances within the so-called “Axis of Resistance.” This network, orchestrated by Iran, comprises Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and other proxy groups across the region. The ongoing ‘Iron Swords’ conflict—Israel’s defensive response to terror emanating from Iranian-backed forces—has seen both increased kinetic attacks and a surge in digital psychological warfare.
Beyond immediate propaganda, the episode has prompted renewed calls from Israeli and international Jewish organizations for stricter regulation of digital platforms, especially Telegram, which often evades global moderation standards. Groups including the Anti-Defamation League and the Simon Wiesenthal Center have called on the international community to address state-sponsored antisemitic incitement as a matter of urgency, given its role in stoking real-world hostility against Jews and Israelis.
Experts stress that online mockery of Israeli civilian deaths is not merely a side effect of regional conflict but a deliberate tactic used by Iran and its collaborators to undermine the humanity of Israeli victims, reinforce hate, and perpetuate a cycle of incitement. Within this climate, even tragic accidents—such as the shark attack in Hadera—are twisted into psychological weapons to further Iran’s anti-Israel agenda.
As Israel persists in its multifaceted war of self-defense—militarily, diplomatically, and online—its institutions and civil society organizations remain focused on counteracting misinformation, exposing the sources of hate, and affirming the dignity and security of its citizens. This case illustrates the wider stakes of modern conflict, where battles are increasingly fought not just on the ground but across the information landscape, threatening the boundaries between genuine tragedy and propaganda-driven triumphalism.
