VOICES

Stefan Tompson

Influencer

Stefan Tompson is the mastermind behind Visegrád 24, one of the most influential X/Twitter accounts posting news about the Middle East, with over one million followers. Describing itself as a "current affairs news aggregator and curator," since it was launched in 2020 the pro-Israel account has grown so rapidly that in peak months it achieves one billion impressions — more than mainstream broadcasters like BBC World. "Israel is at the frontline of the battlefield of radical leftists in Western democracies who have, for some reason, joined forces with the Russia-China-Iran bloc," Tompson told the London-based Jewish Chronicle in an interview, adding pointedly: "This is a deadly alliance which is knocking at the door in Israel." Born in London of Polish and South African descent, Tompson said his focus on the conflict and support for Israel "is not an act of altruism, it is an act of self-interest." Recalling the scenes from the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas massacre, Tompson said it was "the most shocking thing I’ve ever seen — and I remember the videos of ISIS beheadings. But the worst bit was the celebration and joy in Gaza when corpses and hostages were brought back."