Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
Claim
Israel staging a fake killing of a child by Hamas.
Fact
Video shows behind-the-scenes footage from a Palestinian short film, “Empty Place”.
Several social media users are sharing a video, claiming that Israel is making a fake video of a child killed by Hamas, in an attempt to manipulate the media amid its conflict with the Palestinian militant organisation that has entered into a fourth day.
Hamas fighters have reportedly killed more than 800 Israelis in assaults on multiple towns in southern Israel. In response, Israel has launched a bombing campaign in the Gaza Strip, killing more than 500 Palestinians.
The archived version of the tweet can be seen here.
Also Read: 2021 Rally Shared As Recent Pro-Palestine March In Chicago
Fact Check
Newschecker noticed that the set-up seemed too elaborate for a hoax video, considering the surrounding crew, actors and equipment, raising our doubts.
A relevant keyword search led us to this short film on Youtube, dated April 19, 2022, titled “Empty Place”, directed by Awni Eshtaiwe, a Palestine-based filmmaker. “This film is a window overlooking the vacant places left behind all those who left because of the occupation, not only Ahmad Manasrah, but rather 105,000 other ‘empty place’ of martyrs and injured in Palestine,” read the film’s description. We learnt that the film was about a 20-year-old Palestinian prisoner Ahmed Manasrah, who was arrested in 2015 at the age of 13.
A comparison of stills from the film (above) and the viral video, especially from the 01:10 mark and considering the child actor’s t-shirt, angle of his arm, the actors, indicates that the viral video could be behind-the-scenes footage of the short film.
A further search led us to this TikTok video, dated April 21, 2022, showing the filming, stating that it is behind-the-scenes footage of the short film on Manasrah. We learnt that the video had been circulated in April 2022, too, with the false claim that Palestinians were staging fake violence to defame Israel. Eshtaiwe had told USA Today and Reuters that the video circulating online was behind-the-scenes footage from his film.
Also Read: Viral Video From Azerbaijan Falsely Shared As Israeli Generals Detained by Hamas Fighter
Conclusion
Footage from the making of a Palestinian short film shared as evidence of Israel creating fake videos amid the ongoing conflict.
Result: False
Sources
Youtube video, Awni Eshtaiwe, April 19, 2022
TikTok video, April 21, 2022
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Authors
Kushel HM is a mechanical engineer-turned-journalist, who loves all things football, tennis and films. He was with the news desk at the Hindustan Times, Mumbai, before joining Newschecker.
Pankaj Menon is a fact-checker based out of Delhi who enjoys ‘digital sleuthing’ and calling out misinformation. He has completed his MA in International Relations from Madras University and has worked with organisations like NDTV, Times Now and Deccan Chronicle online in the past.
