Ayelet Kreutzer, who served as a spokesperson for the Israeli military during the war in the Gaza Strip, has announced that she is joining the anti-military organization Breaking the Silence, saying she intends to reveal her experiences during military service and what she witnessed inside the army’s spokesperson unit.
In a post on the social media platform X, Kreutzer said she was pleased to take on the role of the organization’s new official spokesperson. She explained that she had given up her military service exemption three years ago and joined the army during the war, motivated by what she believed at the time was a desire to defend her country.
She added that she had never imagined that, after completing her military service, she would join the organization instead of beginning university studies or moving on to civilian life. She also said she had not expected to become part of its team and assume a prominent role.
Allegations of Manipulating the Media Narrative
Kreutzer said that while working in the Israeli military’s spokesperson unit, she witnessed not only the situation on the ground in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, but also how the military selected and presented information to the public.
She said she saw how influential the unit was in shaping public perceptions, accusing it of handling facts in a problematic manner and operating more like a public relations organization than an institution accountable to the public.
According to Kreutzer, the unit’s mission toward Israeli society was to strengthen public confidence in the military, while the public’s right to know was treated as a secondary concern.
On the international level, she said the objective was to establish the legitimacy of military operations and expand their scope, arguing that truth was the price in both cases.
“We Regret Any Harm Caused to Civilians”
Kreutzer revealed that during her service she participated in drafting and editing information released to the media. She said she witnessed Palestinians she described as innocent being labeled “terrorists”, alongside the preparation of carefully worded statements tailored to specific audiences and intended objectives.
She added that she had never been someone who remained silent in the face of injustice, but found herself in a position where she was expected to provide what she described as public relations for that injustice.
She also said she learned how to formulate media narratives about the deaths of dozens of people in a single airstrike, including adding the phrase: “We regret any harm caused to civilians who were not involved in the conflict.”
Kreutzer said this had become part of her daily responsibilities.
She concluded her post by pledging not to remain silent and urging others who served in the military during the war to speak out as well, adding: “In any case… stay tuned for more.”
