Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
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
A Bethlehem church attacked on Christmas.
Fact
Video from October 2022 shared out of context.
A 20 second video clip showing a group of men hurling stones at a building, as sirens are heard wailing in the background is going widely shared on social media platforms. Those sharing the video alleged that it shows a Muslim mob attacking a church in Bethlehem on Christmas. Located in the West Bank, Bethlehem is believed to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ.
Multiple X and Facebook users shared the video claiming, “Bethlehem Church Under Attack: Muslims Target Holy Site with Stones and Gunfire During Christmas.” Newschecker, however, found that the video was shared out of context.
Such posts can be seen here, here, here and here.
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Fact Check/Verification
A keyword search for “Bethlehem,” “Christmas” and “attack” did not yield credible reports on any such incident. However, reports stated that Bethlehem observed a subdued Christmas over the war in Gaza.
We then looked up the keyframes of the viral clip on Google lens which yielded an X post by @AviKaner, dated October 31, 2022. Carrying the same video, it stated, “Christians were attacked in Bethlehem by a Palestinian mob while they were rehearsing for Christmas in a church.”
Displaying a screengrab from the viral clip, a report by All Arab News from October 2022 stated that a church in Beit Sahour – a suburb of Bethlehem south- was attacked by Muslim men.
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“It is very unfortunate and enraging to watch what happened last night in the attack on the Greek Orthodox Church of The Forefathers in Beit Sahour by a group of thugs, following a quarrel between some young men,” the report quoted Wadie Abunassar, spokesman for the Catholic Bishops of the Holy Land, saying in a Facebook post.
A Jerusalem Post report on the incident, dated October 29, 2022, further stated, “Church leaders on Saturday condemned an attack on the Orthodox church in Beit Sahur, near Bethlehem, and called on the Palestinian Authority to bring the assailants to trial. During the attack, which took place on Friday night, dozens of Muslim men hurled stones at the church, injuring a number of people.” Adding that in a statement, the church leaders said the attack came after a “quarrel between some young men.”
Multiple other websites such as this, this and this reported on the attack in October 2022.
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Conclusion
Hence, a video from October 2022 has been shared to claim that a Bethlehem church was attacked on Christmas.
Result: False
Sources
X Post By @AviKaner, Dated October 31, 2022
Report By All Arab News , Dated October 29, 2022
Report By Jerusalem Post, Dated October 29, 2022
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Authors
Vasudha noticed the growing problem of mis/disinformation online after studying New Media at ACJ in Chennai and became interested in separating facts from fiction. She is interested in learning how global issues affect individuals on a micro level. Before joining Newschecker’s English team, she was working with Latestly.
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.
