Lucknow, India – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack on Israel by the Palestinian group Hamas, which resulted in the deaths of 1,206 people, predominantly civilians. The incident sparked a war that led to further casualties in Gaza. Israel’s military offensive claimed the lives of more than 42,847 people, with the majority being civilians, as reported by the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
The circulated video, claimed to depict the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas conflict, actually dates back to a car explosion at a funeral procession in Syria in 2012. A reverse image search revealed that the footage was previously published on platforms like DailyMotion and YouTube, referencing events in Syria, not the recent conflict.
A Syrian journalist confirmed that the language and imagery in the video align with the Syrian context, including the presence of a flag associated with Syrian rebels. Reports from Al Jazeera detailed a tragic incident in Damascus in 2012, where dozens were killed during a funeral procession for an activist.
Despite the misleading nature of the video, misinformation about the Israel-Hamas conflict continues to circulate. AFP has taken proactive measures to debunk false claims and provide accurate information to the public, ensuring that the truth prevails amidst the chaos of war propaganda.
The misrepresentation of footage highlights the importance of fact-checking and verifying sources before sharing information. With tensions high in the Middle East, accurate reporting and vigilance against misinformation are crucial to avoid furthering confusion and perpetuating false narratives about conflicts in the region.