For the last few days, one of the only ways people have been able to see the Israeli siege of Gaza in the aftermath of Hamas’ attack on Saturday has been on TikTok. At a time when journalists are struggling to enter the region, the Daily Mail and others have been livestreaming the siege on the social media platform to thousands of people, providing real-time access to a rapidly escalating war.
Since Hamas launched its multi-front attack over the weekend, the death toll in Israel has risen to 1,200, with more than 2,700 injured. Israel responded with airstrikes and by bombarding Gaza, killing at least 1,055 people and injuring more than 5,000, according to Palestinian officials.
With casualties rising on both sides and Israeli military efforts ramping up, the need for accurate information among journalists and citizens is higher than ever. But do livestreams on TikTok and eyewitness videos on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, actually help or harm?
