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Former employees and contractors linked to Israel’s national public diplomacy directorate have demanded millions of shekels in unpaid dues for propaganda work carried out since October 2023, Israeli financial daily Calcalist reported.

The directorate, commonly referred to by the Hebrew term for propaganda- “Hasbara”- operates under the Israeli prime minister’s office and manages the country’s public diplomacy efforts.

According to the report, companies and contractors who provided services in the months following the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, have taken legal action seeking payment for their work.

Two private companies that provided studio services for Israeli officials and supported activism campaigns in Europe are seeking a combined two million shekels (around $650,000).

Eylon Levy, a British-Israeli who served as an official government spokesperson until March 2024, said he is also owed money but is not part of the legal case. A spokesperson for Levy confirmed this to Middle East Eye.

Levy has continued working in public diplomacy efforts after leaving his government role.

Calcalist reported that dozens of independent activists and contractors were recruited after October 7 as the directorate lacked sufficient staff.

Some individuals involved in the campaign were not directly employed by the government but worked through private production companies that handled payments.

“Private production companies became a payment channel for those representing Israel abroad,” the report said. Contractors who worked with the directorate claimed that “the work was always messy”.

One production company that provided a studio used by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for interviews is seeking more than 500,000 shekels (about $160,000) in unpaid dues.

Another firm, Intellect, has filed a claim for more than 1.5 million shekels (around $487,000) against the prime minister’s office, which oversees the directorate.

According to Calcalist, the company financed flights to The Hague for influencer activists who organised activities against pro-Palestinian demonstrations ahead of hearings at the international court there.

The prime minister’s office said that there were “irregularities in the contracting practices of the public diplomacy directorate” but declined to provide further details, citing ongoing legal proceedings.

Since October 2023, Israel’s public diplomacy campaigns have also been handled by the foreign ministry and the diaspora affairs ministry which have both dedicated huge sums of money to distribute Israeli propaganda.

In September last year, the government approved an additional 150 million shekels for public diplomacy work under the foreign ministry, adding to an existing allocation of 520 million shekels.

The additional funding was taken from the higher education budget.

During the same month, the foreign ministry led by Gideon Saar created a new public diplomacy directorate aimed at hiring bloggers and social media influencers.

In June 2024, Diaspora Affairs Minister Amichai Chikli led a campaign targeting US university campuses that sought to influence discussions on antisemitism in US law.

In May 2025, the diaspora affairs ministry offered settlement municipalities up to one million shekels ($325,000) to support public diplomacy activities inside Israel and abroad.

The conflict between Iran, Israel, and the United States (US) escalated on Friday as missile strikes targeted Tel Aviv, air raids hit Beirut, and the death toll in Iran surpassed 1,300. A school strike on the first day of the campaign is now being linked to US forces. Military investigators believe it is “likely” that US forces were responsible for the strike on a girls’ primary school in Minab, which killed 168 people.

Verified satellite imagery shows the Shajareh Tayebeh school was hit by “multiple simultaneous or near-simultaneous strikes.” United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) reports that of the 190 children killed in the region so far, 181 were in Iran.

In a fresh wave of strikes, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched a combined missile and drone attack targeting “locations in the heart of Tel Aviv.” Blasts were heard over the city as Israeli defense systems attempted to intercept the threat. This follows an earlier IRGC claim of striking fuel tanks at Israel’s Ramat David Airbase.

Beirut’s southern suburbs also faced new Israeli air raids this morning. State media reported “hostile warplanes” struck the area just a day after evacuation orders were issued. In Dubai, residents received emergency alerts on their phones from the Emirati interior ministry, urging them to “seek immediate shelter” due to potential missile threats.

The humanitarian and infrastructure damage in Iran is mounting. The Iranian Red Crescent reports that 1,332 people have been killed since Saturday, with 3,643 civilian sites damaged, including over 3,000 homes and several medical facilities. In Shiraz, official reports confirm at least 20 citizens were killed in recent strikes.

Despite the attacks, Tehran is attempting to restore administrative functions. Ministries and executive bodies are scheduled to operate with 20 percent of staff from Sunday, though female employees will continue to work remotely. However, the country remains under a near-total internet blackout, which has now crossed the 144-hour mark.

The IRGC has warned of a “prolonged war,” claiming that advanced weaponry not yet used in the conflict will be deployed. Brigadier General Ali Mohammad Naeini stated that “painful blows” are coming, describing the situation as a “sacred and legitimate war.”

Regional spillover continues to affect neighboring countries. Saudi Arabia reported destroying three drones east of Riyadh, while explosions were noted over Doha and Manama. In the Persian Gulf, 52 French ships are currently blocked as France seeks an international coalition to secure shipping lanes.

In Washington DC, President Donald Trump dismissed the possibility of sending ground troops to Iran, calling the idea a “waste of time.” He claimed Iran has “lost everything,” including its navy. This follows a US Senate vote that blocked a resolution requiring Trump to seek congressional authorization for the ongoing military campaign.

In Britain, counter-terrorism police arrested four men suspected of assisting Iran’s intelligence service by spying on locations and individuals linked to London’s Jewish community. The Metropolitan Police said that the men were arrested at three addresses in the capital as part of a long-running investigation. 

Airlines including Emirates and Etihad have begun resuming limited flight schedules, though operations remain precarious due to the threat of missile fire.

The current escalation began last Saturday after joint illegal US and Israeli strikes targeted sites across Iran. Iranian media reported that the attacks resulted in the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Mufti Menk has faced intense criticism online after a post on X about remaining silent during uncertain situations was widely interpreted as referring to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States (US).

Menk, whose full name is Ismail Ibn Musa Menk, regularly shares sermons and lectures online and has more than 10 million followers on X. The backlash followed a post he shared on March 4.

“When you don’t know EXACTLY what’s going on, it’s best not to say the wrong thing. Let those with a deeper understanding in that matter say what needs to be said. The Prophetic teaching to those who believe in the day of reckoning is to ‘utter what’s upright or remain silent,’” the post read.

Users on X interpreted the post as referring to the illegal strike on Iran, where Israel and the United States have killed more than 1,000 people and damaged civilian infrastructure, according to international media reports.

The reactions circulating on X were mainly in response to Menk’s post. Many questioned why a religious scholar with a large platform would avoid addressing the conflict directly. 

Some users suggested that remaining silent in the face of suffering was equivalent to avoiding responsibility, saying scholars had a duty to speak against injustice and oppression. Others accused Menk of prioritising financial interests or public standing over openly criticising Israel.

Several posts mocked the statement as a cautious attempt to avoid losing influence or income. One user wrote, “Translation: I don’t want to lose money by criticizing Israel too loudly.” 

Another added, “Being a scholar you have a duty to speak truth and stand against tyrants but you remain silent for your personal gain and enjoying the luxury of the world.”

Some comments accused Menk of choosing worldly gains over religious responsibility. One post said, “Guys i will try to translate this for you: Mufti menk choosing money/ duniya over DEEN!! He is a coward or MUNAFIQ , there is no 3rd option. Thank you for your attention for this matter!!” 

Another described the approach as an Islam reduced to feel-good slogans: “This is the kind of Islam colonizers are comfortable promoting. An Islam reduced to self-help slogans. An Islam that speaks endlessly about ‘ignoring haters’ but falls silent in the face of tyrants.”

Other users highlighted the contrast with the struggles of Muslims in Iran, saying that while they face attacks, Menk’s post offered only general guidance. 

One wrote, “So instead of uttering what’s upright, you remained silent. I have never understood how so many people get taken in by fortune-cookie preachers of any religion who utter feel-good platitudes 24/7 but disappear the moment their voice could matter.” 

Another added, “Islam and Muslims are under attack by zi0nist and this is what you tweet? Tweet about your brothers and sisters in Iran who are fighting the enemies of Islam alone and suffering.” Some summed up their frustration by saying, “save us from Sheikhs like this one.”

Menk later shared a prayer on X, asking for guidance, steadfastness, contentment with divine decree, and protection from harm: “Almighty. Guide us towards goodness beyond this month for Your sake only. Keep us steadfast, enduring the trials You send our way. Grant us a soft heart, always content with Your Decree. Grant us sincerity, success & protect us from harm. Aameen.”