“I am already helping IDF soldiers, we donated to FIDF” was a common refrain in the first months of the war following the October 7th Hamas attack.
The truth? FIDF is proud that they “did not engage” with the most urgent needs of soldiers and spent $172,000 of emergency funds on flip-flops.
This begs the question - how did so many people think that their contribution to FIDF was actually helping the front lines in a meaningful way? Look no further than FIDF’s initial Facebook posts on October 7th:
No where on these ads can the word “humanitarian” or “personal” be found. There is no indication that an emergency donation will go toward flip-flops, mouthwash and candy.
In the hours following Hamas’ horrific attack people were encouraged to “support Israel’s defenders —their fight is our future!”
In what world would someone think that this equals an emergency contribution of mouthwash?