Iran Forcing Students To Rally Against Israel

The hardline Fars News Agency, affiliated with IRGC, has reported that an anti-Israel call is being made across schools in Iran amid the Hamas-Israel war.

Fras wrote that this ceremony would take place on Saturday with cultural programs, music performances and expression of opposition to “hostile policies” of the United States and Israel as well as the conflict in Gaza.

Students and the public will be chanting Islamic nationalist slogans and songs regarding "a new global order with an ideal generation,” Fars said.

Meanwhile images on social media show students singing a different tune. Iranians have been showing strong opposition to the government's pro-Hamas and anti-Israeli narratives as well as unusually vocal support for Israel in its war with Hamas.

“Neither Gaza, nor Lebanon, I will sacrifice my life for Iran,” has been a popular slogan that has been chanted by student in schools, which contradicts the report by Fars news, one of the main media outlets of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.

The Iranian regime has a history of using schools and rallies to further its agenda and narrative with regards to the conflict in the Middle East.

Numerous instances of Iranians expressing support for Israel have emerged on social media including during a football match between Esteghlal and Havadar teams back in October.

Podcaster Sadegh Rohani pointed out in a tweet: "Israel has never been as popular in Iran as it is now. Even if there were Israel supporters before, they were not as outspoken as they are today.”