A disturbing trend has emerged on Israeli TikTok, with content creators pranking their family members or friends by pretending to solicit donations for Palestinian children affected by Israel's war on Gaza.
The trend relies on an assumption that compassion for Palestinian children would be ridiculous or offensive. Content creators record themselves posing as someone collecting aid for Palestinian children, struggling to hold back laughter as their target reacts—often with anger, swearing, and dehumanizing rhetoric.
In one viral video, Israeli influencer Yakir Bar Zohar approaches passersby on the sidewalk, seeking donations for hungry Palestinian children, only to express shock when someone agrees to help. He asks if they're sure they want to donate "to the children who are going to be terrorists."
Other videos feature teens provoking enraged responses from parents who curse at the idea of helping Palestinian children. One mother declares, "Innocent Gazan children? There's no such thing," before wishing them a painful death.
These videos have garnered thousands of likes and comments, with many applauding the reactions and dismissing the suffering of children in Gaza.
@aljazeeraenglish An Israeli social media trend shows people prank-calling family members, pretending to seek donations for Palestinian children, to mock their suffering in Gaza. #news ♬ original sound - Al Jazeera English
The trend comes amid reports of devastating conditions for children in Gaza. A January Unicef statement estimated that 14,500 children have been killed, with thousands more injured or orphaned. Severe food shortages have led to cases of starvation, with Israel recently blocking all humanitarian aid to Gaza as ceasefire negotiations with Hamas are stalled.
As news of the trend spreads online, the videos initially celebrated as humorous have drawn criticism as cruel and "disturbing".
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