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Misbar Investigates Israeli Allegations of Counterfeit UN Decals Supplied by Gaza Firm

Wesam Abo Marq Wesam Abo Marq
News
11th September 2024
Misbar Investigates Israeli Allegations of Counterfeit UN Decals Supplied by Gaza Firm
World of Stickers is a legitimate business

On August 30, Israeli social media users shared a video alleging that a Gaza-based company, “World of Stickers,” was selling counterfeit U.N. stickers for use by Gaza resistance fighters to evade Israeli airstrikes. However, Misbar's fact-checking team confirmed that these claims were completely unfounded. The company clarified to Misbar that it does not offer sensitive services, such as decals or seals, without receiving an official request from a recognized organization.

Own It Collection: World of Stickers

“World of Stickers” is a local business specializing in innovative protection for electronic devices, including thermal packaging made from shock and scratch-resistant materials. The company offers a wide range of products, including leather prints, stickers, seals, invoice and bond books, laptop and mobile stickers, and car stickers.

Originally headquartered in the Al-Remal area of Gaza, the company was destroyed by Israeli airstrikes on October 10, 2023, along with the surrounding neighborhood. 

Despite the ongoing Israeli war, “World of Stickers” resumed operations on July 1, 2024, after partially repairing the original location.

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A screenshot of the company’s post (Instagram)

On August 21, 2024, the company opened a new center in the Al-Sahaba area, continuing its mission to provide protective products and car stickers to its customers.

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A screenshot of the company’s post (TikTok)

Israeli Trolls Accuse World of Stickers of Providing Fake UN Decals for Gaza Resistance Vehicles

On August 30, several Israeli trolls circulated a TikTok video showing a marketing clip from the company “World of Stickers,” which invited customers to visit their new headquarters for ongoing services. 

Pro-Israel accounts misrepresented the company's statement, “We welcome your orders,” to falsely allege that the business was supplying “counterfeit UN stickers to be placed on terrorist cars.”

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A screenshot of the Israeli trolls’ claim.

The renowned Israeli newspaper, The Jerusalem Post, echoed the same claim in an article published on August 30, titled, "Gaza shop creates fake UNICEF stickers for Palestinian vehicles."

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A screenshot of The Jerusalem Post’s claim.

HonestReporting, a pro-Israel media watchdog that claims to expose anti-Israel bias and hold the media accountable, shared a video featuring a speaker from the organization who alleged that “World of Stickers” in Gaza City produces car decals designed to make vehicles appear as if they belong to the U.N., facilitating deception for terrorists. The video also dismissed prior Israeli military targeting of aid convoys and vehicles.

World of Stickers Refutes Israeli Slander to Misbar

In an interview with Misbar, the owner of “World of Stickers,” addressed concerns raised by Israeli trolls regarding the use of sensitive decals for vehicles. He emphasized that the company does not supply such decals unless they receive an official request directed to him personally from the organization, followed by verification of the request’s legitimacy.

The business owner elaborated that when a ministry, for instance, seeks services from their company, “World of Stickers” only proceeds afterr obtaining an official directive from officials. He also highlighted that “World of Stickers” is an authorized provider for several organizations and businesses.

When asked about the viral video circulating among Israeli trolls, which shows an individual downloading and printing the UNICEF logo on a large sticker sheet to affix to a white KIA, the owner clarified that the vehicle, bearing Palestinian plates 3-1801-06, was officially rented by UNICEF.

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Screenshots from the viral video (X)

He also noted that the UNICEF worker who visited their company presented documentation and a contract confirming the vehicle’s affiliation with the U.N. organization. Subsequently, the company was instructed to remove the UNICEF logo from the white KIA following an official request from the organization, likely in response to external pressures on UNICEF.

The owner of “World of Stickers” also spoke to Misbar about The Jerusalem Post's claim that his store posted a video showing "turning a plain white van into a Palestinian Red Crescent ambulance, including the logos and red body work stickers," he clarified that the van belonged to the Palestinian Association for Emergency Medical Services.

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A screenshot of The Jerusalem Post’s claim.

He explained that the organization had requested the company to change the van's color from white to red on September 27, 2023, a month before the Gaza war began.

To confirm his statement, the company chief provided Misbar with a screenshot showing the van being worked on to change its color on that date, along with photos of the van before the color change. 

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A photo of the van was provided by the business owner to Misbar.

He also pointed out that the van includes the Palestinian Association for Emergency Medical Services logo, further confirming its affiliation.

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Two photos of the van were provided by the business owner to Misbar.

Misbar’s investigative team searched the Palestinian Association for Emergency Medical Services’ Facebook account and confirmed that the logo displayed on the page is identical to the logo applied to the van in the photos provided by “World of Stickers.”

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A screenshot of Palestinian Association for EMS’s post (Facebook)

In his final remarks to Misbar, the business owner expressed frustration over the hateful comments directed at “World of Stickers” by Israeli trolls. He revealed that some Israeli accounts had tagged the official Israel Military X account and even shared the precise location of his business, asking the military to strike his company in Gaza, which had already been struck in October 2023.

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A screenshot of hateful comments toward the business (X)

He further added to Misbar, "All organizations we worked with would provide us with official reports and documentation following this slander to counter such false claims in the future."

World of Stickers Partners with International Organizations for Aid Initiatives

Misbar's investigative team analyzed the claims made by Israeli trolls and found them to be baseless, confirming that “World of Stickers” is a legitimate business that was established long before the October 7 war. 

Despite accusations from pro-Israel accounts suggesting that the company opened its services to anyone, “World of Stickers” collaborates with international organizations operating in Gaza during the ongoing conflict. 

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For example, the company partners with UNICEF and Americans for Palestinian Orphans, which is dedicated to providing essential support and funding for Gaza's most vulnerable orphans. As demonstrated in the videos uploaded by the business, they supply these organizations with workers' T-shirts, cloth prints, and leather prints.

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A screenshot of the company’s video (TikTok)
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A screenshot of Americans for Palestinian Orphans’ website.

Furthermore, the company collaborates with Move One, a renowned market leader in logistics, expat relocations, and moving services across Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Balkans, and the CIS.

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A screenshot of the company’s video (TikTok)
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A screenshot of Americans for Palestinian Orphans’ website.

Israel Targets Aid Workers and Convoys in Gaza

Israeli trolls claimed that “World of Stickers” Company protects vehicles from Israeli military strikes by labeling them with international organization stickers. However, reports indicate that since October 7, Israel has deliberately targeted aid workers and convoys in the Gaza Strip on several occasions.

According to an OCHA report from August 19, over 280 aid workers, primarily from the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, have been killed in Gaza since October 7. 

In May 2024, Human Rights Watch documented at least eight Israeli strikes on aid workers' convoys and premises in Gaza since October 2023, despite aid organizations providing their coordinates to Israeli authorities for protection. These strikes, which did not receive prior warnings from Israeli officials, resulted in the deaths or injuries of at least 31 aid workers and their companions. 

In April 2024, seven members of World Central Kitchen (WCK) were killed when a drone repeatedly struck their clearly identified convoy of three vehicles after leaving an aid warehouse in Deir al-Balah. WCK founder José Andrés stated that the IOF targeted the convoy “systematically, car by car,” despite being in contact with WCK and being aware of the aid workers’ movements.

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A screenshot of The Guardian’s article.

Moreover, on February 5, Israeli forces fired on a United Nations convoy carrying essential food supplies in central Gaza, ultimately preventing the trucks from reaching the northern part of the territory, where many Palestinians face the threat of famine.

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A screenshot of CNN’s article.

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