Simulation Game Video Misrepresented as Footage of Palestinians Shooting Down Israeli Helicopters
The Claim
A video shows Palestinians shooting down Israeli helicopters.
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Emerging story
Amid Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, social media users widely shared a video clip purporting to show Palestinian freedom fighters shooting down four Israeli war helicopters in Gaza, Palestine.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the viral video and found it to be fake.
The video does not show a real scene from Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. It shows a military simulation video game called Arma 3.
The Video Shows Shots from a Simulation Video Game
Misbar's team found several video clips that depict similar scenes from the game. Elements such as aircraft launching and destruction are displayed in the same manner, along with the depiction of smoke emerging from the aircraft when they are shot down.
Arma 3 Video Game
Arma 3 is a military simulation video game developed and published by Bohemia Interactive. Renowned for its open-world setting and realistic gameplay mechanics, the game was initially released on September 12, 2013, for Microsoft Windows, followed by a release on August 31, 2015, for macOS and Linux.
Misbar’s team has previously debunked viral videos shared online as purporting to feature real visuals.
Operation Al-Aqsa Flood
Concern about a significant ground invasion of Gaza was widely discussed in the Middle East as Israel planned its response to one of the most severe attacks it had faced in decades.
On Saturday, Hamas fighters infiltrated Israeli towns, resulting in the deaths of at least 250 people while dozens of Israelis were captivated. In response, Israel launched devastating retaliatory strikes, leading to the deaths of over 230 Gazans and the injuries of at least 1,700.
As of 1:30 a.m., the Israeli military was still engaged in combat with Hamas in certain parts of southern Israel, indicating that the situation in the country was not entirely under control. Meanwhile, in Gaza, the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike on a high-rise tower was marked by black smoke and orange flames in the evening sky.
In Gaza, casualties were being transported to crumbling and overcrowded hospitals grappling with severe shortages of medical supplies and equipment.
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