Following the launch of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023, the ongoing war by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip has been accompanied by a surge of misleading and false information regarding Hamas leaders, particularly Yahya Sinwar, the head of the movement in Gaza. This article highlights some of the most significant claims that Misbar has meticulously tracked, shedding light on the disinformation that has proliferated amidst the chaos of war.
Old Video of Yahya Sinwar Mentioning Israel’s Threat To Assassinate Him
On November 10, 2023, various social media accounts circulated a video purportedly showing a press interview with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. In this interview, Sinwar allegedly addressed Israeli forces' threats to assassinate him.
After conducting further investigation, Misbar found that this claim was misleading, as the video is not new; it was originally published in May 2021. In the footage, Yahya Sinwar made his first media appearance following a previous Israeli offensive, during which Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz issued a threat against him. In a bold statement, Sinwar declared that he would walk through the streets of Gaza without security for approximately 60 minutes, giving Gantz the chance to act on his assassination threat, should he "dare" to do so, according to Sinwar's words.
Old Appearance of Yahya Sinwar Unrelated to Ceasefire Initiation During the War
Following the ceasefire between Hamas and the Israeli occupation that took effect on November 24, social media accounts and pages circulated a video purportedly showing Yahya Sinwar’s first appearance since the ceasefire.
However, Misbar's investigation revealed that the video is old and does not depict Sinwar’s first appearance after the ceasefire. Instead, it is from a meeting between Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and Sheikh Jabir Omar, a leader previously exiled in Sudan. This event took place during a gathering organized by the Waed Captive and Liberators Society on May 6, 2023.
Edited Video of Citizens’ Reactions to a Photo of Yahya Sinwar in Gaza
Six months after the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip and Rafah, a video surfaced on social media platforms X and Facebook, claiming to capture citizens’ reactions to a photograph of Yahya Sinwar being shown to them.
Misbar's investigation revealed that the claim was misleading, as the video is edited. In the original footage, content creator Adam Nawas is seen presenting a photograph of Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee, not a picture of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.
Old Photo of Yahya Sinwar Walking in the Streets of Gaza
Amid news reports quoting a Hamas official who stated that Yahya Sinwar, the head of the movement in Gaza, visited several locations where fighting broke out between the resistance and Israeli occupation forces on April 25, users began sharing a photo claiming it was from Sinwar's latest appearance in the Gaza Strip.
However, the investigation revealed that the claim was misleading, as the photo is not from Sinwar's recent visit to the fighting areas in Gaza; it is, in fact, an old image from June 2017. This photo shows Yahya Sinwar inspecting the Gaza border with Egypt alongside a Hamas delegation and members of the administrative committee in Gaza, specifically at the Rafah and Karem Abu Salem border crossings.
On April 24, social media accounts circulated another photo of Yahya Sinwar, asserting that it captured his presence alongside Qassam fighters during a field visit amid the ongoing fighting.
Misbar investigated this circulating claim and found it to be misleading. The photo in question is not from Sinwar's inspection of fighting areas in Gaza on April 25; rather, it is an old image from 2018, during Sinwar's participation in the Great March of Return in eastern Gaza.
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