OFFSTONE JUNE EDITION 2025

51 These dynamic highlights the larger impact of digital media on public perception and discussions related to the conflict. The ethical responsibilities of users become even more significant due to the risk of digital manipulation, which can skew realities and deepen divisions. Such manipulation affects personal understanding and shapes collective narratives, resulting in polarised viewpoints that obstruct meaningful conversation. Therefore, users need to critically navigate these complexities, acknowledging the influence of their participation in the digital environment. Closing The 2023 Gaza War has highlighted the fragility of truth in the digital age. The rapid spread of disinformation, algorithmic biases, and ethical lapses by platforms and users has contributed to a crisis in digital discourse. Addressing these challenges requires a concerted effort to promote media literacy, enforce platform accountability, and foster a culture of critical engagement with online content. BIBLIOGRAPHY Al Jazeera. (2023, October 10). Social media platforms are swamped with fake news on the Israel-Hamas war. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/10/social-media-platforms-swamped-with- fake-news-on-the-israel-hamas-war/. Wikipedia contributors. (2024). Hamas baby beheading hoax. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamas_baby_beheading_hoax. Associated Press. (2023, October 14). Social media is awash in misinformation about the Israel-Gaza war, but Musk’s X is the most egregious. Retrieved from https://apnews.com/article/cb5192215d0f89d8a413606d0ec73cf4. Misbar. (2024, June 3). AI-Operated Accounts Promote the Israeli Narrative During the Gaza War. Retrieved from https://www.misbar.com/en/editorial/2024/06/03/ai-operated- accounts-promote-the-israeli-narrative-during-the-gaza-war. Zeitzoff, Thomas. "How social media is changing conflict." Journal of Conflict Resolution 61, no. 9 (2017): 1970-1991.