News: The falsehoods circulating around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Since the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, a wave of disinformation has swept across social networks. Viral videos are circulating claiming that Palestinians are pretending to be injured by Israeli army bombings. However, it is important to exercise discernment because these videos are in reality fake news spread with the aim of sowing confusion.
One such video, which purports to show Palestinians faking injuries, was widely shared on social media in India. Indian accounts have helped spread this disinformation by claiming that Palestinians are using makeup techniques to mislead public opinion and falsely accuse Israel. However, a simple reverse image search allows you to go back to 2017 and discover that these images were shot during a film organized by Médecins du Monde in Gaza.
These misinformation are not an isolated phenomenon. An investigation by research institute DFR Lab found that many social media accounts in South Asia, posing as Indian, are widely distributing “copy and paste” content. These accounts are suspected of participating in a coordinated disinformation campaign, aimed at influencing public opinion in the context of the upcoming Indian elections in 2024.
It is important to emphasize that this disinformation comes in a context where the Indian government is regularly accused of stigmatizing Muslims, and where the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is in power. Viral videos thus aim to reinforce existing prejudices and sow confusion among Internet users.
Faced with these misinformation, it is essential to be vigilant and check the source of the information before sharing it. Disinformation is a growing threat in a world where information travels quickly and where it is often difficult to distinguish fact from fiction. As consumers of information, it is our responsibility to promote accuracy and combat fake news.
In conclusion, viral videos claiming to show Palestinians faking injuries are false information spread with the aim of manipulating public opinion. Faced with this misinformation, it is essential to exercise discernment and promote responsible consumption of information.