Instagram posts
an Instagram post
stated on October 9, 2023 in an interview:

Video shows Hamas militants “dressing up as Jewish soldiers” to create propaganda.

False

Behind-the-scenes footage of short film isn’t Hamas propaganda

A video showing several people standing around camera equipment is being presented as an example of Hamas-produced propaganda following the group’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

“These terrorists are dressing up as JEWISH soldiers to create fake videos about Israeli soldiers!” an Oct. 9 Instagram post sharing the video wrote. “Faking Propaganda!”

This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)

In reality, this video was shared on TikTok in April 2022 by cinematographer Mohamad Awawdeh. Similar footage shared in June by Awawdeh on Instagram clarified in the caption that this was behind-the-scenes footage of a Palestinian short film about Ahmad Manasra, who has been imprisoned since he was 13 after an attempted murder conviction. 

The footage has been used in misinformation before. In 2022, Reuters fact-checked a similar claim that it showed Palestinians staging a fake killing by Israeli soldiers. 

We rate claims the video shows Hamas militants making propaganda False.

 
Our Sources

Instagram post, Oct. 9, 2023

Facebook post, Fact Check-Video of alleged fake Palestinian killing is from a short film, April 27, 2022

YouTube, Empty place Film | فيلم محل فاضي, April 18, 2022

Instagram post, June 30, 2023

TikTok post, April 21, 2022

The Associated Press, Palestinian seeks early release in case that shook Jerusalem, Nov. 10, 2022