War on Gaza: are US billionaires teaming up for pro-Israel media drive?

A group of billionaires is reportedly teaming up to support a media campaign that favours Israel and opposes Hamas, according to a recent report by Al Jazeera.

The media campaign Facts for Peace is seeking million-dollar donations from the media, finance and technology giants, as per an email seen by news website Semafor.

As per the report, more than 50 influential people like former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Dell CEO Michael Dell and financier Michael Milken are being courted for this drive.

American billionaire Barry Sternlicht, the person who began this effort, mentioned that the campaign aims to assist Israel in "taking control of the narrative” amidst global reactions to the intense Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip.

In the email, Sternlicht wrote, “Public opinion will surely shift as scenes, real or fabricated by Hamas, of civilian Palestinian suffering will surely erode [Israel’s] current empathy in the world community.”

It was further mentioned in the email, “We must get ahead of the narrative.”

Not only this, Sterlicht’s media drive is aiming to declare Hamas as a terrorist organisation and they are also seeking $50m in private donations, paired with a matching contribution from a Jewish charity.

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