WATCH: What made this Israel-hater change his mind?

"I thought I understood the conflict," says @realclokkr, a social media influencer, in an interview with Din Moriel. "Everything I saw on mainstream media and social platforms painted Israel as the oppressor and Palestinians as people just wanting to live their lives. I was wrong."

His perspective shifted dramatically after viewing unedited footage of Hamas's October 7 attack on Israeli civilians. Like many, he had initially only seen filtered or partial coverage of the events. "There's a reason these videos aren't widely circulated—they're horrifically graphic. But they show the undeniable truth: this wasn't an act of resistance; it was premeditated mass murder."

His journey to understanding the conflict's complexity led her to diverse sources, including Yoseph Haddad, an Arab-Israeli activist whose perspective he found particularly compelling. "If anyone can offer an objective view, it's someone like Haddad, who bridges both worlds," she explains.

His research also revealed aspects of the current conflict that challenged his previous assumptions. "I learned about the Israeli military's efforts to minimize civilian casualties, something rarely highlighted in mainstream coverage. The reality is far more nuanced than what we see on social media."

The most profound shift in his understanding came from recognizing Hamas's role in civilian casualties. "What became clear is that Hamas deliberately puts Palestinian civilians in harm's way. This isn't about fighting oppression—it's about causing maximum civilian casualties on both sides."

"Before this, I saw Israel as a powerful nation oppressing a weaker one," he reflects. "But after wrestling with this for months, particularly after seeing the barbarity of October 7, I realized I had been missing crucial context. This isn't about size or strength—it's about intent and actions."

This experience has been a stark reminder of the importance of seeking out primary sources and diverse perspectives. "We can't rely solely on social media narratives. The truth is often more complex—and sometimes more disturbing—than what we see in our daily feeds."