Israeli, MAGA-linked accounts amplified 'hostile narratives' about France riots

Key Points:

• A French foreign ministry report found that social media accounts linked to Israel and the US MAGA movement pushed hostile narratives about recent riots in France, associating the unrest with radical Islamism and migration, with their top posts garnering tens of millions of views.
• A separate EU assessment revealed that a covert Russian network called "Operation Overload" exploited the riots by spreading disinformation blaming uncontrolled immigration and portraying the French government as weak and authoritarian, using impersonated Western media videos to target French audiences.
• Both assessments indicate external actors are opportunistically using France’s domestic turmoil to influence public opinion and political narratives ahead of elections, although there is no evidence these actors instigated or escalated the protests.
• Experts describe these campaigns as part of a slow-burning "narrative competition" that fuels anti-immigrant sentiment and political polarization in Europe, with Russia’s Operation Overload also aiming to undermine European support for Ukraine.
• French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged foreign manipulation of information but denied visible foreign interference behind the protests, while officials from Israel and the US did not respond to requests for comment.