Israeli Police Spokesperson Dean Elsdon Fights Global Misinformation
Dean Elsdon, the Israeli Police spokesperson for international media, was honored with an award for distinguished service at the President's Residence on Sunday. Elsdon, who immigrated to Israel as a lone soldier, spoke to Arutz 7 about his intensive work communicating Israel's narrative to foreign press since the outbreak of the war.
He described the challenging days following the October 7th Hamas attacks, recounting how he presented the realities of the massacre sites and the ongoing police operations under rocket fire to international journalists. Elsdon stated that he felt he was fighting a battle with the foreign media, trying to convey the scale of the atrocities he witnessed firsthand in communities like Kfar Aza and Be'eri.
Elsdon recalled warning reporters early on that global attention might shift away from the initial attacks and towards Israel's actions. "I told them: the day will come when you turn the story on us. Don't forget why this war started in the first place," he said. He emphasized the need for the world to understand the context of the terror attack before debating Israel's response, comparing the situation to the aftermath of 9/11.
He also detailed his experience confronting a Gaza flotilla, including activists like Greta Thunberg, at the port. Elsdon boarded one of the ships, expecting to find aid, but found it empty. A selfie video he recorded there, showing the empty vessel, gained significant traction online, which he believes effectively presented the truth to the international community.
Elsdon explained that his role evolved beyond traditional police spokesmanship to broader national advocacy. He noted the significant gap between how messages are understood in Israel and how they are perceived internationally, stressing the importance of understanding the target audience while remaining truthful. Elsdon, who rose from being a lone soldier to his current role, expressed pride in representing Israeli police and the country on the global stage.
