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Disinformation in the Lebanese information space after the ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel – examples
The ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel, and especially the ceasefire signed on November 27, 2024, is associated with many unknowns. On the one hand, the messages addressed to the Lebanese were full of hope and encouraged to return home, especially after reaching an agreement. On the other hand, almost at the same time, the media reported new attacks and violations of the ceasefire by both sides.
EXAMPLES OF DISINFORMATION ACTIVITIES:
1. A photo appeared on social media showing an Israeli helicopter allegedly shot down in the Al-Khiyam area in southern Lebanon. According to the posts, the helicopter was supposed to be transporting several dead and wounded Israeli soldiers.
A Facebook user shared the photo with the caption: “An Israeli helicopter was just shot down in the #Al-Khiyam area, in southern Lebanon, while transporting several dead and wounded Zionist army soldiers.”
Source:
Fact check:
FALSE. When we Google the image using Reverse Image Search, we come across a report by The Times of Israel from May 20, 2019 with the title: “Hamas fighters tried to shoot down Israeli military helicopter in latest round of fighting.” According to the report, the Israeli helicopter fired flares after a Hamas cell tried to shoot down a military helicopter in the Gaza Strip during clashes in 2019. Sometimes something as simple as using Google’s image search tool allows for quick fact-checking.
Report link: https://www.timesofisrael.com/hamas-tried-to-down-an-idf-helicopter-during-fighting-this-month-report/
2. Social media users have circulated a photo that allegedly shows explosions in Haifa on November 26, 2024, following rocket attacks by Hezbollah.
Source:
The photo gained popularity after the Israeli military announced that the air force had intercepted rockets fired from Lebanon towards Israeli territory, in the Haifa area. Hezbollah has claimed responsibility for shelling the city of Nahariya and Israeli military positions, as well as two camps in the occupied Golan Heights.
Fact check:
FALSE. Media outlets published a photo on October 8, 2023, showing an explosion in Rishon Lezion, south of Tel Aviv, after rockets fired by the Palestinian resistance from the Gaza Strip struck.
Link to article: https://espanol.almayadeen.net/noticias/politica/1754038/resistencia-palestina-marca-con-fuego-a–tel-aviv
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A public task financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland within the frame of “Public Diplomacy 2024-2025: The European Dimension and Countering Disinformation” contest
The publication expresses only the views of the author and cannot be identified with the official position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland.
