‘Hamas-shark’: Anti-Israel social media erupts in mockery & praise of shark attack on Israeli man

Growing genre of online propaganda claims 'even nature' turns against Israel

Anti-Israeli online commentators erupted in glee and mockery after reports that an Israeli man was attacked, and probably killed, in a highly rare shark attack on Israel’s Mediterranean coast on Monday.

The incident was immediately co-opted into an anti-Israeli meme culture and connected to other recent incidents of animals attacking Israeli citizens or soldiers, with some exploiting the reports to claim that “even nature” is turning against Israel.

On social media platforms, commentators mainly writing in Arabic but also in other languages, used the tragic incident to mockingly promote anti-Israeli incitement and dehumanization.

Al Qassam Shark brigades attacked jews today. Kill them all. pic.twitter.com/XleQto9ZG2
— DOUG (@LaughingMahn) April 21, 2025

People shared memes and pictures, many created using Artificial Intelligence, showing a shark in Hamas garb or with a Palestinian keffiyeh shawl.

Others mocked official Israeli statements denouncing terror groups or state actors as antisemitic by joking that even sharks were now antisemitic.

Comments like “The antisemitic shark – fight to total victory,” or “The warrior shark, Abu-shark force,” received thousands of likes.

``..the shark is identified as one of the khamas terrorist and we will began the plan to bomb the entire ocean now..`` - Satanyahoo pic.twitter.com/8Ef8rZI4HU
— Autumn Frost 𓂆 (@SageMiloHarwood) April 22, 2025

“Sharks are more honorable than the people who let Gaza down,” one commentator wrote. A commentator quoted Sura 74 of the Quran: “None knows the soldiers of your Lord except He.”

“O Allah, increase their number and do not leave any of them alone,” someone prayed.

Another post mocked announcements by former IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari, showing him next to a shark with a caption saying that Hagari had vowed revenge against the shark, while claiming the attack had only caused minor injuries for the diver.

بعد الوشق المصري .. القرش القسامي ..

"قرش قسامي".. بهذه الكلمات غطت مواقع عربية خبر مهاجمة قرش لغواص إسرائيلي أمام الكاميرات قبالة سواحل الخضيرة بالأمس.
(يديعوت أحرونوت) pic.twitter.com/eL6aGo1eJM
— Dima Halwani (@DimaHalwani) April 22, 2025

The reaction to the rare shark attack adds to the recent genre of using animal attacks as anti-Israeli propaganda. Last month, a female caracal, or desert lynx, bit some Israeli soldiers in the Negev desert, sparking similar commentary.

Edited pictures showed the caracal wearing Hamas headbands or attacking Israeli soldiers, while commentators thanked the animal. “Even our animals know you (Israel) are the enemy,” someone wrote.