Authors
Claim
Several high-profile Israeli Generals captured by Hamas fighters.
Fact
The viral video has no connection with Israel – Palestine conflict. The individuals were detained by Azerbaijan’s State Security Service (DTX) for allegedly participating in coordinating illegal armed group activities in Karabakh.
A viral video shows handcuffed individuals being forcibly removed from a vehicle by men in military attire. Along with this video, it has been claimed that several high-profile Israeli Generals are apprehended by Hamas fighters amid the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. But, in reality, the viral video shows arrests of Karabakh separatists leaders in Azerbaijan. This viral post can be viewed by clicking here.
The video has been posted by several X users with the same claim. They can be viewed by clicking here, here, here and here.
Meanwhile, various users have also posted the video on Facebook with this claim. They can be viewed here, here, here and here.
On the other hand, this video has also been posted on YouTube, Instagram, etc. with similar claims. They can be viewed by clicking here and here.
Fact Check / Verification
In order to ascertain the fact of the viral video, we conducted a Google reverse image search. During this process, we came across several media reports that were shared on October 5, 2023, which indicated that people who allegedly formed illegal armed groups in Azerbaijan’s Karabakh region and organized their activities are facing criminal charges, as reported by Azerbaijan’s State Security Service. These reports can be read by clicking here, here and here.
These news reports carry a video which is longer than the viral one. It is evident that the 2.27-minute- long viral video is taken from the 3.36-minute-long video published in the news reports.This video was posted on October 5, 2023 in the verified Official Channel of DTX, just two days prior to the Hamas attack in Israel, and it bears the title in Azerbaijani language, that translates to “Persons organizing the activities of illegal armed groups in Karabakh were arrested.”
On the other hand, the details of this video read – A criminal case is being continued in the State Security Service regarding the terrorist acts committed by the illegal armed groups operating in the Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan. (Translated through Google from Azarbaijani)
A report and video in this regard has also been uploaded on the official website of DTX i.e. State Security Service of The Republic of Azerbaijan on October 5. This report can be viewed by clicking here.
A tweet in this regard on the official website of DTX –
After this, we started collecting information about DTX written on the soldier’s dress seen in the video. According to the information we received while searching Google in this regard – ‘The State Security Service (Dövlət Təhlükəsizlik Xidməti – DTX) of Azerbaijan serves as the primary domestic intelligence agency and is responsible for handling matters related to national security and intelligence within the country. It was established following the dissolution of the Ministry of National Security in 2015, as decreed by President Ilham Aliyev through Presidential Decree 706 on December 14, 2015.’ In addition, the flag on the army’s shoulder is the Academy Flag of the State Security Service in Azerbaijan.
The video was posted on the official website of the State Security Service of Azerbaijan and on all social media handles two days before (5th October, 2023) the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. So, this viral video has no connection to the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.
Conclusion
A Newschecker investigation has revealed that the individuals seen in the viral video are not Israeli army officers detained by the Hamas fighters. This incident occurred in Azerbaijan on October 5, 2023, just two days before the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where individuals involved in coordinating illegal armed group activities in Karabakh were apprehended by Azerbaijan’s State Security Service (DTX). Therefore, the viral claim is False.
Result: False
Our Sources:
1. Report published by www.rferl.org, dated 5th October, 2023
2. Report published by www.rferl.org, dated 5th October, 2023
3. Post on X, by Jitesh Sharma, dated 8th October, 2023
4. Post on X, by DTX Official, dated 5th October, 2023
5. Post on YouTube by DTX Official, dated 5th October, 2023
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