Old unrelated visuals falsely linked to the October 2023 Israel-Palestine conflict - FACTLY
Sai Krishna Muthyanolla
October 19, 2023
Palestinian militant groups, led by Hamas, launched a large-scale attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip on 07 October 2023, resulting in the death of hundreds of Israelis. In response, Israel initiated counter-offensive measures. Amidst this, several videos are being shared online, purportedly linking to this conflict. Let’s verify the authenticity of each one.
Update (19 October 2023):
Video 16:
A video depicting an airstrike on a building during a live media report is currently circulating widely on social media. This video is claimed to show recent footage of Israel’s airstrikes on Gaza. Let’s examine the validity of this claim.
A reverse image search of the viral video led us to the same footage, uploaded by Al Jazeera English on 14 May 2021 on X. The video was described as the moment an Israeli airstrike hit a high-rise building in Gaza while journalist Youmna Al Sayed was reporting live for Al Jazeera from a neighbouring building on 12 May 2021. Therefore, it is evident that this video originates from 2021 and is not related to the Israel-Palestine conflict of 2023.
Update (15 October 2023):
Video 15:
Another video depicting a helicopter being shot down by a missile is being widely shared as footage of Palestinian forces taking down an Israeli helicopter. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
A reverse image search of the keyframes extracted from the viral video has led us to the same video, which was uploaded on 27 September 2023 on a YouTube channel named “Kazinkka Warrior“. The title and description of the video clarify that it is not real footage but a simulation from the video game Arma 3. Similar visuals of Arma 3 game simulation videos uploaded to the same channel and other channels can be seen here and here.
Update (14 October 2023):
Video 14:
Yet another video depicting a huge unmanned underwater vehicle emerging from a water body is being shared, with claims linking it to the ongoing conflict. The video includes a caption that reads ‘Fear Israel,’ suggesting that Israel may be deploying these weapons against Hamas.
However, it’s important to note that the video has no connection to the current conflict between Israel and Hamas; it has been available on the internet long before the commencement of the recent conflict.
A reverse image search on screenshots from the viral video directed us to a TikTok video featuring comparable visuals. The TikTok user shared this video on 29 September 2023, much before the current conflict, which began on 07 October 2023, with Hamas launching a surprise attack on Israel. This indicates that the video is unrelated to the ongoing conflict, though we do not know whether the video is a CGI creation or shows a real unmanned underwater vehicle.
The user posted the video with hashtags that imply it portrays a UFO sighting. This user has shared numerous videos claiming to depict encounters with extraterrestrial phenomena. Therefore, all of these findings conclusively demonstrate that the video is unrelated to the current Israel-Palestine conflict.
Update (13 October 2023):
Video 13:
Another video is being shared on social media claiming it shows visuals of missiles destroying military aircraft in the war-torn Israel and Palestine region. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
On observing the full video carefully, one could see a watermark with the text “BELAL The Gamer” at the bottom center at an instance of the video. When we searched for further sources of the video using relevant keywords, we found the same video on the Facebook page of “BELAL The Gamer”. This Facebook page published the video with the description, “Advanced Missile Destroys Massive KA-52 Battle Helicopters – ARMA3”. This Facebook user published many such simulated videos created using ARMA 3 video gaming software. A few of those videos can be seen here, here, and here.  So, it can be concluded that the video shared in the pot shows video game simulation clips created using the ARMA 3 video game software and has nothing to do with the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Update (12 October 2023):
Video 11:
A video depicting a mosque being bombed is circulating widely on social media, with claims that it shows a mosque in Palestine being destroyed by Israel. Let’s examine the veracity of this claim.
FACTLY had already debunked this video in 2021, during the conflict between Israel and Palestine. According to media reports (here, here, and here), the video actually depicts an incident where the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) destroyed the Shi’ite Uwais al-Qarni mosque in Raqqa, Syria, back in 2014. Therefore, it’s clear that the video is not related to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Video 12:
A video depicting paragliders landing has been circulating widely on social media, with claims that it shows Hamas militants gliding into Israel prior to an attack. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Upon conducting a reverse image search of the viral video, we found the same video posted on YouTube on 29 September 2023, titled “Parachute forces in Heliopolis“. Heliopolis is a suburb located in Cairo, Egypt. Additionally, we noticed that the phrase ‘EL NASR SC’ was emblazoned on the back of the t-shirts worn by individuals in the video. This led us to discover that the video was actually filmed during a paragliding event at the El Nasr Sporting Club in Cairo, Egypt. Similar videos of paragliding activities from this club can be viewed here and here.
Update (11 October 2023):
Video 9:
A video depicting a red flare spreading across the sky has been circulating widely on social media. The claim accompanying the video suggests that it showcases Israel’s retaliation against Hamas by attacking Palestine. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Upon conducting a reverse image search of the viral video, we discovered the same video posted on 02 October 2023 on TikTok, five days prior to the Hamas attack on Israel. Moreover, the original version (archived) of the video was uploaded on 28 September 2023 on TikTok, well before the recent Israel-Palestine conflict. Numerous users have commented that the video originates from Algeria. Guided by this information, we conducted further searches and found similar visuals (here, here, and here) shared by Algerian sports handles earlier as the visuals of football fans’ celebrations in Algiers, Algeria. While we were unable to independently verify the exact timing of the video’s recording, it is clear that the video is not related to the October 2023 conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Video 10:
Another video, allegedly showing a squadron of warplanes soaring through the sky, is being widely circulated on social media. The claim accompanying the video suggests that it depicts Israeli planes preparing to attack Palestine. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
A reverse image search of the viral video led us to the original TikTok account (@iceman_fox1) that posted the video recently. The description indicates that the video was created using a software known as Digital Combat Simulator. We also discovered that the user frequently posts similar simulation videos of warplanes on their TikTok and Instagram pages. Digital Combat Simulator is a free-to-play digital battlefield game, offering the most realistic simulation of military aircraft, tanks, ground vehicles, and ships.
Update (10 October 2023):
Video 7:
A video depicting an explosion in a residential area is circulating widely on social media, with claims that it showcases recent footage of the Israel Air Force attacking terror targets in Gaza. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
A Reverse Image search of the viral video directed us to the same video, which was uploaded on the YouTube channel of the Associated Press Archive on 18 May 2023. The description and other news reports indicate that the footage displays an Israeli airstrike on a house in northern Gaza, during a previous conflict between Israel and the Islamic Jihad militant group in Gaza in May 2023. Therefore, it is clear that the footage does not depict the clashes between Israel and Palestine in October 2023.
Video 8:
Another video depicting an airstrike on a building is circulating, being shared as a recent video of the Israeli Air Force conducting an airstrike on Gaza. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
A reverse image search of the viral video led us to the same video published by Quds News Network on X, dated 13 May 2023. The description states that Israeli occupation warplanes bombed and completely destroyed a house in the al-Zaytoon neighbourhood in Gaza City on 13 May 2023. Therefore, it is evident that the footage does not portray the clashes between Israel and Palestine in October 2023.
Published (09 October 2023):
Video 1:
A video depicting a soldier aiming a MANPADS at what appears to be a military helicopter and subsequently destroying it is being widely circulated as the visuals of Hamas fighters shooting down a helicopter in Gaza, Palestine. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
A reverse image search of the viral video led us to the same footage posted by the Facebook page ‘Noakhalia Kaga’ on 16 August 2023, under the title “Stinger Missile Launcher System E169“.
The page clearly states that it is dedicated to gaming. Furthermore, users have identified the clip as being from the video game ARMA 3 & the creator confirmed the same. We also discovered that the page posts numerous similar clips from the game. Gameplay videos of ARMA 3, resembling the viral video clip, can be seen here.
Video 2:
A video depicting an airstrike demolishing a building is circulating widely on social media. It is claimed that the footage shows a recent airstrike by Israel, as part of ‘Iron Swords’, targeting a building in Gaza, Palestine. Let’s examine the validity of this claim.
A reverse image search of the viral video directed us to the same footage posted by the Al Jazeera English YouTube channel on 14 May 2021, titled ‘Israel Destroys Third Gaza Tower’. The description reads, “This is the moment the 14-storey al-Shorouq tower, housing media offices in Gaza City, was completely destroyed by multiple Israeli air raids on Wednesday (12 May 2021).” Other media outlets reported this incident at the time, as can be seen here and here. Hence, it is evident that the viral video is not related to the recent Israel-Palestine conflict.
Video 3:
A video that depicts fighter jets being transported by ground vehicles is circulating on social media. The accompanying claim suggests that the footage shows Israel evacuating their air bases near the Gaza Strip in response to the recent offensive by Hamas against Israel. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
A reverse image search of the viral video directed us to the same footage, posted by X users (here & here) as early as 15th September 2023. The title of the video was, “Two F-16 fighter jets transported by ground transport spotted in southern Israel“. The video also features the name boards of the southern district towns of Ar’ara BaNegev and Arad in Israel. While we were unable to independently verify the context and precise date of the incident, it’s clear that the video predates the recent Israel-Palestine conflict, and therefore, does not depict the aftermath of the recent developments.
Video 4:
Another video purportedly showing two helicopters getting shot down is being widely shared on social media, claiming that it shows Israeli helicopters getting shot down in Gaza. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Reverse image search of the viral video led us to the same video uploaded to a gaming YouTube channel ‘Kazinkka warrior‘ on 04 October 2023. The uploader mentions that it is a simulation video from the game ARMA 3 and does not show any real incident. Similar visuals of ARMA 3 game simulation videos uploaded to the same channel and other channels can be seen here and here.
Video 5:
A video depicting armed men wreaking havoc in the streets is currently circulating widely on social media. The accompanying claim suggests that the footage shows Palestinian Mujahideen seizing control of Israeli headquarters. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Upon investigation, it was discovered that this same video was previously debunked by FACTLY in August 2021 when it gained traction as footage from Afghanistan. According to news reports (here, here, here, and here), the visuals actually depict Syrian rebel groups, including the al-Nusra Front, Jund al-Aqsa, Jaish al-Sunna, Liwa al-Haqq, Ajnad al-Sham, and Faynad al-Sham, capturing the city of Idlib in March 2015. Therefore, the video has no connection to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.
Video 6:
Another video, broadcasted by Zee News, showing paragliders in the sky has been widely shared on social media. The claim accompanying the video suggests it depicts Hamas militants parachuting into Israel to launch an attack. Let’s verify the claim made in the post.
Initially, a reverse image search of the viral video was conducted, but it yielded no results. Subsequent analysis led to a post on X that identified the building visible in the viral video as the Egyptian Military Training Academy. Taking a cue from this, a comparison was made between the building in the viral video and the Military Training Academy in Cairo, Egypt. The comparison clarified that the building in the video is actually located in Cairo, Egypt but not in Israel. Although the exact time and context of the video remain undetermined, it’s safe to conclude that the video originates from Egypt and is not connected to the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.