Itamar Ben-Gvir shares AI videos mocking Gazans, strains France relations.

Israel’s far‑right minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir has posted AI‑generated videos that mock Palestinians, including one that magically transports Gazans to Paris and another that calls them “donkeys,” just weeks before the country’s national election.

The clips appear as Israeli political campaigns increasingly turn to artificial‑intelligence tools to shape public opinion. Parties on both the right and left have deployed deepfakes, automated bots and synthetic audio to push their messages. The election, set for later this year, is expected to be fiercely contested, and candidates are seeking any edge to sway undecided voters.

One of Ben‑Gvir’s videos sparked a diplomatic row with France after it depicted Gazans arriving in Paris and being ridiculed. French officials condemned the material as hateful and warned that such disinformation could inflame tensions. Human‑rights groups also denounced the clips as dehumanising propaganda. Social‑media platforms have flagged the posts, but the content continues to circulate through private messaging apps.

Experts say the episode illustrates how AI can amplify extremist rhetoric and blur the line between satire and hate speech. Election monitors are calling for stricter rules on synthetic media, and Israel’s election commission has pledged to investigate violations of campaign law. The incident underscores the growing challenge democracies face in policing AI‑driven misinformation ahead of crucial votes.