This Image Does Not Depict the Egyptian Soldier Killed During an Exchange of Fire With Israeli Forces
The Claim
First Lieutenant Ahmed Mustafa Jaber, a graduate of the 117th batch of warlords/Egyptian army, was martyred by the fire of the Israeli occupation army on the Palestinian-Egyptian border.
News posted on
Emerging story
Recently, social media users have been circulating an image claiming to depict Lieutenant Ahmed Mustafa Gaber, from the 117th Infantry Battalion of the Egyptian Army, who was killed in Rafah on the border with Gaza, during an exchange of fire with Israeli soldiers.
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the claim and found it to be misleading. The image shows Lieutenant Ahmed Mustafa Gaber, who died in a car accident on Saturday, May 25. It does not depict the Egyptian soldier who was reported killed in an exchange of fire between Egyptian and Israeli soldiers on the border between Egypt and the Gaza Strip.
The Killing of an Egyptian Soldier in a Shootout With Israeli Forces
The military spokesperson for the Egyptian Armed Forces, Colonel Gharib Hafez, announced the killing of a soldier in a shooting incident near the border strip with the Gaza Strip in the Rafah area. The announcement was followed by reports of an exchange of fire between Egyptian and Israeli soldiers.
The spokesperson for the Egyptian Army did not disclose the name of the soldier killed in the incident, merely indicating that the relevant authorities are conducting investigations to determine the circumstances.
The military spokesperson's statement read, "The Egyptian Armed Forces are conducting an investigation by the relevant authorities regarding the shooting incident in the border strip area in Rafah, which resulted in the martyrdom of one of the security personnel."
A security source revealed to Al-Arabi Al-Jadeed newspaper that the Egyptian soldier was killed by Israeli sniper fire, contrary to what Israeli media reported, claiming that Egyptian soldiers had opened fire on occupation soldiers.
The Israeli Army Reports a Shooting Incident on the Egyptian Border
The Israeli army announced a "shooting incident" on the border with Egypt. In a statement, the Israeli army clarified that "the incident is under review, and discussions are currently underway with the Egyptians."
In early May, the Israeli army announced its control over the Palestinian side of the Rafah crossing after advancing into the Philadelphi Corridor, which runs along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt.
Israel's control over the crossing sparked criticism from Egypt, which refused to cooperate with Israel in coordinating the entry of aid through the crossing, asserting its commitment to a mechanism managed by the Palestinians. Israel justified its activities in Rafah as efforts to eradicate Hamas.
The circulation of the claim comes less than 24 hours after an Israeli airstrike on a Palestinian refugee camp in Rafah, which resulted in the deaths of 35 people and injuries to more than 200 others, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza.
Read More
Outdated Photo Allegedly Shows the Arrest of Two Palestinians During the Gaza War
