Telegram Channels Spread False Claims Against News12 Journalist Guy Peleg’s Family Ahead of Elections

Telegram channels have launched a coordinated disinformation campaign targeting the family of Guy Peleg, a legal analyst and journalist for Israel's News12. On August 19, false claims were spread on the channel "Mivzakei Israel" accusing Peleg’s daughter, Roni Peleg, of passing military base information to Iran. This baseless allegation quickly reached around 60,000 followers. This attack follows a similar falsehood circulated about Peleg’s son, Ori Peleg, two weeks earlier, accusing him of producing a musical work that insults the Israeli flag, anthem, and Jewish religious texts. These defamatory messages were amplified across multiple Telegram channels, including "Diyukim Online," "News in Real Time," and "Southern News on WhatsApp," collectively reaching over 100,000 followers within hours.

The disinformation campaign is part of a systematic effort to flood social media with hateful and misleading content targeting journalists and government critics ahead of upcoming elections, according to the research group Fake Reporter. The group warns that these are not isolated incidents but a well-organized influence operation aimed at manipulating public opinion. Guy Peleg has faced ongoing incitement and threats, including concerns for his personal safety, as part of a broader campaign against his journalistic work. The attacks come from both online propaganda channels and some government-affiliated sources, reflecting a sustained effort to undermine Peleg and his family.