Disruptive Media Event in a Divided Society: The Case of October 7 Atrocity Videos in Israel

Abstract

The use of social media by terrorists for live broadcasts can orchestrate a disruptive media event. The conceptualization of viewing as a ritual reveals its social functions. This study examines the emotional reception of the Jewish majority and Arab-Palestinian minority in Israel to the documented Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Data were collected via a questionnaire distributed to 432 participants aged 20 to 28. Despite social differences, both groups reported high video consumption, increased fear, and decreased well-being. In addition, Israeli Arabs expressed empathy for the Jewish victims. While the emotional reactions among Israeli Arabs suggest an inclination toward integration and distancing from Palestinianization, for Jews, watching the atrocities invoked Holocaust memories alongside emotions of rage and a desire for revenge. The study demonstrates that media events can occur solely on social media, even in fragmented broadcasts. Without official narratives and traditional media, a ritual process of communitas and the experience of witnessing a historical moment can still emerge. The ceremonial mechanisms of media events and the resulting social cohesion may help explain the public legitimacy of large-scale military operations in Gaza.