Netanyahu’s Appeal to Iranians Prompts Trending Social Media Solidarity

Jerusalem, 1 October, 2024 (TPS) -- Ordinary Iranians have been taking to social media with messages of solidarity with Israel in response to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s appeal to them on Monday.

The hashtag #TnxBBfromIran is short for Thanks Bibi from Iran. The hashtag began appearing in comments on Netanyahu’s video at his YouTube channel, then spread to X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Our war is not against you,” Netanyahu said in English.

“With every passing moment, the regime is bringing you — the noble Persian people — closer to the abyss,” Netanayhu said. “The vast majority of Iranians know their regime doesn’t care a whit about them. If it did care, if it cared about you, it would stop wasting billions of dollars on futile wars across the Middle East. It would start improving your lives. Imagine if all the vast money the regime wasted on nuclear weapons and foreign wars were invested in your children’s education, in improving your health care, in building your nation’s infrastructure, water, sewage, all the other things that you need. Imagine that.”

“When Iran is finally free — and that moment will come a lot sooner than people think – everything will be different,” the Prime Minister added. “Our two ancient peoples, the Jewish people and the Persian people, will finally be at peace. Our two countries, Israel and Iran, will be at peace.”

Iranians responded with messages of solidarity as well as photos of graffiti from around Iran, some of which included the hashtag. In one image purportedly taken in Tehran, the graffiti said in English, “Khameini is next #TnxBBfromIran.” Other shared photos that were apparently taken around Iran featured graffiti with messages such as “Hit them, Israel Iranians are behind you,” and “Israel hit them. We’ll finish the regime off in the streets.”

Tweeted another Iranian, “During the 46 years of occupation of Iran by the regime of the Islamic Republic, until now no foreign political leader “I emphasize” no political leader in the world has spoken so honorably and honestly to the suffering and imprisoned people of Iran!”

Another posted, “The only country that stands by the Iranian people is Israel and we are grateful. There is no middle ground in this battle, two completely separate sides, there is no justification for supporting the octopus arms of crime and terror of the Islamic Republic.”

Netanyahu’s video was posted hours before Israel announced it launched ground operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

After the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, the Iran-backed Hezbollah began firing rockets and launching drones at northern Israel communities, killing 49 people. According to figures released by the government on Sept. 29, more than 68,000 residents of northern Israel are displaced from their homes. Hezbollah leaders have repeatedly said they would continue the attacks to prevent Israelis from returning to their homes.

Israel’s war goals include securely returning northern residents to their homes.

Israeli officials demand Hezbollah to be disarmed and removed from southern Lebanon in compliance with UN Security Council resolution 1701 which ended the Second Lebanon War of 2006. This includes all areas south of the Litani River such as the cities of Nabatieh and Tyre, as well as the Beqaa Valley in eastern Lebanon.