Watchdog tracks thousands of 'false flag' posts blaming Israel after flydubai attack
The Combat Antisemitism Movement says conspiracy posts blaming Israel or Jews for the flydubai FZ1073 incident appeared on X 67 minutes after the first distress signal. The two Israeli outlets covering it relay the group's figures and statements.
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The story, neutrally told
The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) said antisemitic conspiracy theories began appearing on X 67 minutes after flydubai Flight FZ1073 sent its first emergency signal on Wednesday. JNSR “The first such post appeared 67 minutes after the aircraft transmitted its initial emergency distress signal, according to CAM.” Read at JNS ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “the first post declaring the event an Israeli false flag appeared on X just 67 minutes after the emergency signal.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ The flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when, according to the reports, the co-pilot allegedly stabbed Capt. Smit Machchhar and apparently tried to crash the Boeing 737. JNSR “the co-pilot allegedly stabbed Capt. Smit Machchhar and apparently attempted to crash the Boeing 737” Read at JNS ↗ Passengers overpowered the attacker after the wounded captain opened the cockpit door, and two other flydubai pilots on board landed the plane at Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The Jerusalem Post says it carried 174 passengers and was a Boeing 737 MAX 8. JNSR “Two additional flydubai pilots traveling aboard the aircraft subsequently took control and made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.” Read at JNS ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “a Boeing 737 MAX 8 flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 passengers” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
CAM's Antisemitism Research Center counted 2,963 posts on X over a 12-hour monitoring period that blamed Israel, the Mossad, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Zionists or Jews for the incident. JNSR “identified 2,963 posts on X during a 12-hour monitoring period” Read at JNS ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “identifying 2,963 hostile posts that blamed Israel, the Mossad, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Zionists, or Jews for the incident” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ It collected 4,136 posts containing the phrase 'false flag', about 72% of which promoted such claims, a share that rose to 82% in the final hour. JNSR “The organization collected 4,136 posts containing the phrase “false flag,” of which approximately 72% advanced conspiracy claims blaming Israel or Jews.” Read at JNS ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “rising the 82% in the final hour” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ The Jerusalem Post gives a fuller timeline: 100 posts by 3:07 AM ET, 500 by 5:42 AM ET, 1,000 by 7:35 AM ET and 2,000 by 9:36 AM ET, with a peak of 623 posts between 9:00 and 10:00 AM ET. JNS says 1,000 posts were documented within five hours. The Jerusalem PostRC “reaching 100 posts by 3:07 AM ET, 500 posts by 5:42 AM ET, 1,000 posts by 7:35 AM ET, and 2,000 posts by 9:36 AM ET” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ JNSR “Within five hours, researchers had documented 1,000 posts promoting such claims.” Read at JNS ↗
Examples in the report included posts claiming Netanyahu staged the event to cancel elections or distract from criminal charges, and posts comparing it to September 11 and October 7. The Jerusalem PostRC “alleging that Netanyahu staged the event to cancel elections or distract from criminal charges” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ CAM research associate Oliver Marks said the speed was striking and that the narrative is 'part of a script that already exists'. The study said the pattern mirrors influence operations by hostile states, Russia foremost among them. The coverage presents this as CAM's assessment and gives no independent evidence of state involvement. JNSR “it’s part of a script that already exists, sitting ready for use whenever opportunities arise.” Read at JNS ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “The pattern mirrors the influence operations that hostile states, Russia foremost among them” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ CyberWell founder and CEO Tal-Or Cohen Montemayor also said 'false flag' claims quickly emerged, calling them a form of 'conspiratorial self-victimization', and urged platforms to use real-time expertise to respond. The Jerusalem PostRC “These claims reflect a broader pattern of conspiratorial self-victimization” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
JNS reports that Israeli authorities were participating in the investigation, and that the motive remained under investigation. JNSR “Israeli authorities were participating in the investigation into the incident, whose motive remained under investigation.” Read at JNS ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left0 outlets
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Centre0 outlets
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Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both Israeli outlets relay CAM's study as evidence of how fast antisemitic conspiracy narratives spread, leading with the 67-minute figure and the post counts.
- Emphasis
- Speed and volume of the posts, the quotes from CAM's Oliver Marks, and the study's link to hostile-state influence operations; the Jerusalem Post adds CyberWell's comments and a detailed timeline.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither piece offers independent verification of CAM's counts or the Russia comparison, and neither includes a response from X or from those who posted the claims.
- Charged language
- “Antisemitic conspiracies”“hidden hand”“Jew-hatred”
- For example
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““Antisemitic conspiracies spread within 67 minutes of flydubai attack”” — JNS
“Watchdogs uncovered conspiracy theories blaming Israel for staging flydubai incident” — The Jerusalem Post
What every side reports
- CAM says the first conspiracy post appeared on X 67 minutes after the emergency signal.
- CAM counted 2,963 posts blaming Israel or Jews among 4,136 'false flag' posts over 12 hours.
- The plane diverted safely to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia after the pilot was allegedly stabbed.
Combat Antisemitism Movement organisation
CAM presents the posts as an existing antisemitic script applied to breaking news, and as resembling hostile-state influence operations.
“It’s clear this isn’t a narrative that forms in response to an incident.” — JNS
Benjamin Netanyahu person
Named in the posts, which alleged that Netanyahu staged the incident for political reasons; the coverage carries no response from Netanyahu.
“alleging that Netanyahu staged the event to cancel elections or distract from criminal charges” — The Jerusalem Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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JNSR ·
'Antisemitic conspiracies spread within 67 minutes of flydubai attack'
Alarmist JNS leads with the speed of conspiracy theories, presenting CAM's findings largely unchallenged.
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Watchdogs uncovered conspiracy theories blaming Israel for staging flydubai incident
Critical The Jerusalem Post frames the posts as antisemitic misinformation, adding detailed timestamps and CyberWell's call for platform action.
- 1 Oct 09:56 First JNSR 'Antisemitic conspiracies spread within 67 minutes of flydubai attack'
- 1 Oct 15:40 +5h 43m The Jerusalem PostRC Watchdogs uncovered conspiracy theories blaming Israel for staging flydubai incident
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.