Video of Israelis Rushing to the Airport Is Not Recent

Misbar investigated the circulating video and found the claim to be misleading.

Misbar's team found that the video in question is not recent; it dates back to October 10, 2023, when a number of residents from Ashkelon evacuated in anticipation of the deadline set by Abu Ubaida.

Abu Ubaida Orders Evacuation Before Ashkelon Attack in October 2023

The military spokesperson for the Al-Qassam Brigades, Abu Ubaida, instructed residents of the city to vacate their premises by 5 p.m. on Tuesday. In a statement on his Telegram account, he said, “This warning is a response to the enemy’s actions of displacing our people and forcing them to abandon their homes in various regions of the Gaza Strip.”

Hamas launched an assault on the Israeli city of Ashkelon following a 90-minute warning for civilians to evacuate.

Ayatollah Khamenei Promises Severe Retaliation Against Israel Following Haniyeh's Assassination

The circulation of the claim followed a pledge by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, for "severe consequences" against Israel in response to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran on Wednesday. Iran and its Gaza-based proxies have attributed the attack to Israel, which has not publicly responded. Haniyeh, 62, was recognized as Hamas's overall leader and played a key role in negotiations aimed at achieving a ceasefire in the ongoing Gaza conflict.

His assassination occurred just hours after Israel claimed responsibility for the killing of Fuad Shukr, the chief military commander of Hezbollah in Lebanon. In response to rising tensions, the Pentagon announced it would deploy additional warships and fighter jets to the Middle East to bolster Israel’s defenses against potential retaliatory actions from Iran and its allied forces.

The regional atmosphere remains tense following Haniyeh’s killing and the elimination of a key Hezbollah commander. The Pentagon reported that missile defense systems were placed on heightened alert, reinforcing its "ironclad" commitment to Israel’s protection. Prior to April 13, when Iran launched a drone and missile strike against Israel, the U.S. military had already increased its presence in the region. Israel’s defense successfully intercepted nearly all of the approximately 300 drones and missiles fired during that attack. Although Israel has not directly addressed the incident involving Haniyeh, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mentioned that the country had dealt "crushing blows" to its adversaries in recent days, including the elimination of Shukr in Beirut.

Israeli Airstrike in Tulkarem: Casualties Reported Amid West Bank Incursions

At least five individuals, including a local Hamas military commander, were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting a car in Tulkarem, located in the occupied West Bank. Medical sources informed Al Jazeera on Saturday that among the deceased was Haitham Balidi, head of the Qassam Brigades in the Nablus region. Additionally, a relative confirmed that another victim was a leader of the al-Quds Brigades, the armed branch of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The full identities of the other casualties have yet to be confirmed, as family members arrived at the Tulkarem hospital to identify the dismembered bodies.

The Israeli military claimed that the vehicle housed a "terrorist squad," offering no further details. Airstrikes in the occupied territories have intensified since the conflict in Gaza erupted on October 7, resulting in more than 80 Palestinian deaths from at least 29 strikes.

The incident coincided with Israeli military operations across various West Bank towns. In Tulkarem, infrastructure was demolished by Israeli bulldozers, while soldiers apprehended three Palestinians, including a journalist, in Nablus. Additional military actions were reported in Jenin, Faqqa, Deir Abu Daif, Bethlehem, and around Ramallah. In East Jerusalem, activist Ramzi Abbasi was re-arrested after previously being released in November.

Since October 7, over 600 Palestinians, including 144 children, have reportedly been killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank. Ground raids and mass detentions have grown increasingly frequent during this period, becoming nearly a daily event.

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