Online Conspiracy Theory Claims Israel Is Clearing Gaza For A Disney Theme Park

Three months ago today, Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, setting off a brutal war in Gaza. When the conflict started, many in Hollywood tried to chart a middle ground but quickly found being in the middle meant that both sides disagreed with you. The Walt Disney Company was one of those who charted the middle ground by donating $2 million for humanitarian aid in Israel, but even that ended up sparking outrage.

Related: Pro-Palestinian Voices Calling For a Disney Boycott Just As They Introduce Their First Israeli Superhero

After donating $1 million to the Magen David Adom, an affiliate of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and another $1 million to nonprofit agencies working in the area to protect children, Disney ended up angering those who are pro-Palestinian for not offering direct aid to those children suffering in Gaza. A groundswell started online, calling for a boycott of Disney, with one user telling his followers to “pirate all of Disney’s movies so not a penny makes it to the studio.”

So, for the past three months, Palestinians and their supporters have been calling for boycotts of major corporations that gave money to Israeli charities and did not give direct funding to those suffering in Gaza. There have been calls for boycotts against Amazon, Starbucks, and, most loudly, the Walt Disney Company.

Related: ‘We Are All Losers’ Josh Gad Threatened for Showing Sympathy For Israel

Disney Park in the Gaza Strip

But now, a conspiracy theory is spreading online that Israel and the Israeli Military are destroying large portions of the Gaza Strip to take it over and allow the Walt Disney Company to build a new Disney theme park. While there is no truth to this, it has not stopped many Palestinians from linking the Israeli bombardment to Disney.

From a practical perspective, Disney has no plans to build a new park anywhere in the Middle East, let alone in the middle of the Israel Hamas War. Disney also has no control or contact with the Israeli Military.

Related: Twelve-Year-Old ‘Harry Potter’ Superfan Killed in Hamas Terrorist Attack

From a business and human perspective, no matter what you think of the Disney brand, you wouldn’t believe that it would be associated with the killing of civilians. Hamas militants killed thousands of Israeli citizens during their initial attack. Israeli forces have been bombing Gaza, and thousands of civilians have been killed. Disney has no role in that.

Human Rights Watch has said that Israel is using starvation as a weapon against civilians in Gaza and that this conflict has made the situation in Gaza untenable. Disney would not put its brand near that type of human suffering.

So, while both sides seem to have issues with the Walt Disney Company, Disney does not have a direct line to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, nor does it control the Israeli Military.

We will continue to update this story at Disney Fanatic.