Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer held a Twitter question-and-answer session Thursday morning, amid escalating violence in the Gaza strip between Israeli and Hamas forces.
Like past iterations of political Twitter Q&As, Dermer's hashtag, "#AskDermer," was hijacked by activists. The hashtag was filled with hundreds of questions from Twitter users critical of Israel's strategy, with a mix of cynicism, snark, and anger. At least 230 people in Gaza have been killed since the fighting began 10 days ago, as well as one Israeli.
Many questions were aimed at the deaths of four children on a Gaza beach Wednesday. Here's a sampling:
#AskDermer what would you do if someone had bombed and shelled Florida killing 50 children in 10 days? Would you fight back?
- Ali Abunimah (@AliAbunimah) July 17, 2014
#AskDermer what happened when @IDFSpokesperson murdered 4 Palestinian kids in front of a #Gaza hotel of journalists http://t.co/oPXue23MuM
- Occupy Wall Street (@OccupyWallStNYC) July 17, 2014
What is your excuse for what your airstrikes have done to this Gazan family? #AskDermer pic.twitter.com/SkLVhNYZ2f
- Ali Rjoub (@Ali_Rjoub) July 17, 2014
The Israeli publication Haaretz said Dermer got "what he asked for" by holding the Q&A. Dermer took it all in stride, even engaging with some of the critics:
.@fullyspectrumed Israel cares more about Pal civilians in Gaza than Hamas. We try to get them out of harms way. They put them in harm's way
- Amb. Ron Dermer (@AmbDermer) July 17, 2014
.@TOactivist Actually, if you turn your hospital into a command post & missile launching site you do. But Israel hasn't.
- Amb. Ron Dermer (@AmbDermer) July 17, 2014
.@NTagouri Genocide? Attempt to exterminate another people? Are you serious?
- Amb. Ron Dermer (@AmbDermer) July 17, 2014
.@NTagouri Genocide=Holocaust. 6 million Jews murdered. 10k murdered everyday in May 1944 in Auschwitz.
- Amb. Ron Dermer (@AmbDermer) July 17, 2014
.@akahnnyc You think America would use less force than what Israel is using? Seriously?
- Amb. Ron Dermer (@AmbDermer) July 17, 2014
.@OccupyWallStNYC When Jews come 2 Israel, they're coming home. Hope 1 day, Palestinian refugees will have a home of their own next 2 Israel
- Amb. Ron Dermer (@AmbDermer) July 17, 2014