This Photo Does Not Show the Gazan Captive Badr Dahlan Before the IOF Arrested Him

23rd June 2024

This Photo Does Not Show the Gazan Captive Badr Dahlan Before the IOF Arrested Him

The photo shows the young journalist Qusay Salem (X)

The Claim

29yr-old Palestinian Badr Dahlan was a a socially active & beloved young man, but after his abduction and torture by israeli troops, this is him now. Before and after 💔

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Rula Alqawasmi

Nour Naim| نُور

Ion Andoni Castillo ☭

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Prof. Martín Barrero Álvarez

Emerging story

Recently, social media users and pages widely circulated a photo allegedly showing the young Gazan Palestinian Badr Dahlan before his arrest by Israeli occupying forces in Gaza. Dahlan appeared distressed in a video clip after spending a month in Israeli prisons.

An X user shared the photo, along with the caption, "29yr-old Palestinian Badr Dahlan was a a socially active & beloved young man, but after his abduction and torture by israeli troops, this is him now. Before and after."

A supporting image within the article body

Misbar’s Analysis

Misbar investigated the viral photo and found the claim to be misleading.

The photo shows the young journalist Qusay Salem, who was killed by an Israeli bombing last January, along with journalists Hamza Al-Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya.

Qusay Salem’s Cousin Denies Claims of Viral Photo

Palestinian journalist Yahya Salem, Qusay Salem’s cousin, posted a clarification on his Instagram stories, clarifying that the photo is not of the released prisoner Badr Dahlan, but rather of his cousin Qusay Salem.

Yahya Salem and several Palestinian activists had previously released additional photos on January 7 showing the young journalist Qusay Salem following the Israeli raid that targeted him at that time.

An Israeli Airstrike Targets a Vehicle Carrying Journalists in Khan Yunis

On January 7, an Israeli airstrike targeted a car carrying journalists west of Khan Yunis, located in the southern Gaza Strip. According to media sources, an Israeli drone launched a missile at the vehicle, resulting in the deaths of journalists Hamza Wael Al-Dahdouh and Mustafa Thuraya, with another journalist sustaining injuries.

Reports from the media indicated that journalist Qusay Salem was driving the targeted car at the time of the attack.

Scenes of Gazan Prisoner Badr Dahlan Post-Release

Scenes emerged of Gazan prisoner Badr Dahlan following his release, depicting the 29-year-old in a visibly distressed state after spending a month in Israeli occupation prisons. Dahlan displayed signs of torture on his face, hands, and body, recounting his arrest from Khan Yunis, south of the Gaza Strip, about a month ago.

During his detention, Dahlan described enduring severe conditions, including violations and torture, before his release on Thursday, June 20. He described this period as a harrowing "nightmare." Not knowing the current whereabouts of his family, Dahlan learned of significant destruction in Khan Yunis due to the ongoing Israeli conflict in Gaza.

Following his release, Dahlan was admitted to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah, central Gaza, for medical treatment, expressing uncertainty about his immediate plans and stating, "I do not know where to go yet."