The Video Is From a Documentary Series by an Israeli Journalist and Does Not Depict a Real Scene in Syria
The Claim
The famous Jewish journalist was dressed in disguise as the religious Sheikh Abu Hamza, they gave him a Syrian passport, and he entered Syria incognito to collect information.
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Emerging story
Recently, social media users have been circulating a video claiming to depict an Israeli journalist disguised in Muslim clothing bearing the name “Abu Hamza” and presenting himself as a religious sheikh who entered Syria to gather information.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the claim and found it to be misleading, as the video clip is actually an old excerpt from a documentary series co-prepared and presented by Israeli journalist Zvi Yehezkeli, rather than a real clip of an Israeli hiding in Syria to collect information.
The Israeli Documentary Series “False Identity” Aired in 2018
Israeli Channel 13 released footage of the widely circulated scene on January 15, 2018, as part of its announcement regarding the broadcast of the documentary series titled “False Identity,” hosted by Israeli journalist Zvi Yehezkeli. In the series, the journalist adopts the guise of a sheikh affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, aiming to infiltrate the group, reportedly active in Western nations, as per Israeli media reports at the time.
The Israeli journalist subsequently shared the circulated scenes from the episode on his YouTube channel, showcasing segments depicting his acquisition of a Syrian passport to assume the persona of Sheikh “Abu Hamza.”
According to media reports, the journalist received guidance and training from intelligence agencies, including the Israeli General Security Service (Shin Bet) and Mossad, to adopt the persona of a Muslim Brotherhood sheikh. His role involved soliciting aid for the group and engaging in youth recruitment. Additionally, Channel 10 reported that the journalist himself procured a Palestinian passport for use as necessary. He was equipped with high-quality cameras discreetly embedded in his glasses and clothing buttons, along with a registration ring. The episode primarily delves into the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood in Europe.
The Israeli Documentary ‘False Identity'
The documentary series comprises six episodes aired in 2018. Throughout the production process, the journalist traveled across multiple countries, including Turkey, Germany, France, and the United States of America. However, none of the media reports indicated his visit to Syria during any stage of the series' development.
Yehezkeli asserts that the objective behind creating this series was to unravel the covert mechanisms and organizational methods employed by the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria, Turkey, Europe, and the United States. He aimed to shed light on the group's ambitions to exert global influence.
Israeli Journalist Zvi Yehezkeli
Israeli journalist Zvi Yehezkeli, formerly affiliated with the Israeli Mossad, specializes in Arab affairs within Hebrew media circles. He previously served as the head of the Arab affairs bureau at Channel 13 News. In April of last year, he transitioned to working for the Israeli I24 news channel. Known for his staunchly extremist views toward Islam and the Palestinian people.
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