Israel’s Soft Power Application through Digital Diplomacy against Hamas to Iran Wars (2023-2025)

Abstract

This paper highlights the concept of Soft power, focusing on the application of digital diplomacy for the projection of soft power as the power of influence and attraction. It further highlights the use of digital media for the diplomatic practices by different countries for the pursuit of their foreign policies. It further examines the possibilities and probable challenges for the achievement of foreign policy objectives through diplomatic activities and how these modern trends and practices are contributing for the application of soft power. Modern trends and Digital diplomacy like many new trends may not replace the traditional interactive diplomacy. Traditional form of diplomacy and the modern concept / practices of digital diplomacy co-exist and complement each other. Digital diplomacy and Internet activities as a whole can greatly assist in projecting a state’s foreign policy positions for the projection of soft power. This paper further explores the concept of digital diplomacy by the use of digital media in the field of diplomacy and how Israel has demonstrated the concept of soft power for utilizing these tools in the furtherance of her foreign policy. It examines the opportunities and challenges of Israeli diplomatic activities since the Hamas Israel war of 2023024 till Iran Israel war. This paper emphasis the designs of Israel for the use of digital media and how it affects core diplomatic functions of representation, perception and relationship management. The paper further examines the utilization of soft power tools on social media and how strategic narratives serve a greater purpose of justifying and legitimizing military actions during the war. Gaza War is a classical situation which has been described as a war between Israel and Hamas in world media, emphasizes the importance of strategic narratives propagation through digital diplomacy as a soft power tool. Given the current criticism of Israel for human rights and Law of Armed Conflict transgression in Gaza, this research becomes even more pertinent and objective oriented as digital diplomacy may be effectively used as a crucial tool for just war theory. To study the use of digital diplomacy as an effective tool of soft power projection, a case study is conducted which examines the Israel's strategic narratives projection through digital diplomacy tools from October 7, 2023, and the following Israel Iran war in year 2025.

Keywords:Soft Power, Joseph Nye Jr, Digital Diplomacy, Public Diplomacy, Culture, Political Value, Foreign Policy, Israel, Palestine, Hamas, Iran, Digital and Social Media