Jessica Buxbaum

Jessica Buxbaum is a Jerusalem-based journalist for MintPress News covering Palestine, Israel, and Syria. Her work has been featured in Middle East Eye, The New Arab and Gulf News.

Pariah State: Israeli Soldiers Face Arrests and Travel Bans Worldwide

“We’ve got them literally on the run, which hadn’t happened up until now. Foot soldiers and corporals and captains, et cetera always thought that they could keep on vacationing in Europe and other exotic places, and they can’t do that anymore.” Haroon Raza, HRF

Jessica Buxbaum
By Jessica Buxbaum
IDF Lawfare Feature photo alt

On January 5, 2025, Yuval Vagdani, an Israeli army reservist, fled Brazil while on vacation after a federal judge in the country opened a war crimes investigation into Vagdani over his alleged involvement in demolishing homes in the besieged Gaza Strip. The Brazilian judge used a legal tool called “universal jurisdiction” to pursue Vagdani.

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Israel Isn’t Leaving Syria: Settlement Plans Signal a Permanent Land Grab

Fueled by settler movements and messianic ideology, Israel’s advance into Syria signals a troubling push for territorial dominance.

Jessica Buxbaum
By Jessica Buxbaum
Syria Israel Feature photo

Israel wasted no time following the abrupt collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria. Within hours of Assad’s fall on December 8, 2024, Israeli forces seized the buffer zone separating the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from the rest of Syria. They raised Israel’s flag atop Mount Hermon. More than a month later, Israeli troops remain

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Are You Debating a Bot? Investigation Reveals Israel’s AI Bots Argue With Online Critics

A groundbreaking investigation by Jessica Buxbaum reveals that when users engage with pro-Israel accounts, they may actually be interacting with AI bots, not real people, as part of an Israeli government influence strategy.

Jessica Buxbaum
By Jessica Buxbaum
Israel AI Bots Feature photo

In recent months, reports have surfaced that Israel is deploying artificial intelligence not only on the battlefield in Gaza but also online, where the goal is to influence public opinion through social media bots spreading disinformation. Israel has a long history of using social media for propaganda, whether by working with tech companies to

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Exposed: The US and Canadian Funding Behind Israeli Soldiers Accused of Rape

MintPress uncovers the troubling role of US and Canadian donors in backing Israeli soldiers accused of raping and torturing Palestinian detainees, spotlighting the international reach of financial support for human rights violations.

Jessica Buxbaum
By Jessica Buxbaum
Israeli Soldiers Rape Donors Feature photo

Cuffed and blindfolded 24 hours a day. Confined to animal pens. Attacked by dogs. This is reportedly the treatment of Palestinian detainees at Sde Teiman, an Israeli military base in the Naqab desert. While claims of torture and abuse at the facility began circulating in December, the Israeli military did not open an investigation into the

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Free Speech Under Fire: How Israel’s Tech Guard Is Killing Free Speech Online

“Sites like Words of Iron are scaring other content creators from posting about Palestine. They’re chilling free speech, and that’s what they aim to do.” — Rosy Pirani

Jessica Buxbaum
By Jessica Buxbaum
Israel Free Speech Online Feature photo

Hours after Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, as the Israeli government was readying for war, the Israeli tech sector was preparing for a war of its own. Entitled Israel Tech Guard, the coalition of Israeli tech employees has pulled together what it’s termed an “army” of citizen volunteers primarily to defend Israel’s image online. The

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Devastation Into Dollars: Israeli Startups Are Making a Killing in Gaza

Israeli startups are cashing in on Gaza’s destruction, using the ongoing conflict to showcase and sell their cutting-edge military technologies to a global market.

Jessica Buxbaum
By Jessica Buxbaum
Israeli Startups Gaza Feature photo

Despite calls across college campuses demanding divestment from Israel, one sector of the Israeli economy appears to be booming. Israeli startups raised over $1 billion in funding for the second straight month in May. A number of these successful startups have participated in Israel’s ongoing war on the besieged Gaza Strip, suggesting genocide

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Israel’s Celebrity Charm Offensive: The Truth Behind the Glamorous Trips

Jessica Buxbaum explores the complex web of connections between celebrities, media companies, and pro-Israel organizations, as the battle for public opinion rages on.

Jessica Buxbaum
By Jessica Buxbaum
Israel Celebrity Feature photo

Since Israel launched a war on Gaza in October, it’s been accused of genocide, been on trial for war crimes, and seen allies stop approving weapons shipments. Yet amid the storm of negative press and genocidal war, some organizations are attempting to shift the narrative in Israel’s favor by taking celebrities and social media influencers on

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