ADL Debunk: Myths and False Narratives About the Israel-Hamas War

In the wake of Hamas’s deadly invasion of Israel on October 7, 2023, a slew of misinformation, disinformation and conspiracy theories about the ongoing conflict are percolating on social media.  

The following is a list of false or misleading narratives and the truth of each case.  

UPDATED December 13, 2023

^{Above: Viral post on X alleging that a deceased infant “is a doll”}

 

FALSE NARRATIVE: Photo of deceased infant in Palestine is a “doll” 
 
On December 1, 2023, photos and videos of a grieving man in Palestine holding a deceased baby went viral after journalists and users on social media claimed that the baby was fake and that the incident was staged. The Jerusalem Post published an article about it, claiming the “dead Palestinian baby” in the footage was “only a doll.”  
 
REALITY: The victim shown in the photographs was very real—a five-month-old baby named Muhammad Hani Al-Zahar. “Evidence” for the ”doll” claim was based entirely on conspiratorial hearsay. Verified photographs of the scene, which were taken near Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, are available on Getty Images. The Jerusalem Post eventually apologized and publicly retracted the article. 

^{Above: Image of fake Hamas website homepage}

 

FALSE NARRATIVE: Hamas created a new website to showcase its crimes 
 
On or around November 16, 2023, social media posts began referring to “Hamas.com” as the new, official Hamas website. The page includes documentation of Israeli suffering and death from the October 7 attack, and celebrates the number of victims killed, hostages taken, missiles fired and Israeli homes burned by Hamas. 
 
REALITY: While many of the photos and videos shown on Hamas.com are believed to show actual events from October 7, this website does not belong to Hamas. The group’s actual website is currently inaccessible. Taking the conspiracy one step further, some have alleged that ”Hamas.com” was created by Israel, citing the fact that the site is credited to Israeli software company Wix. However, Wix is one of the most popular website builders in the world and operates out of more than 20 offices globally.  
 

UPDATED November 10, 2023:

Above: X user shares deepfake video of IDF member

 

FALSE NARRATIVE: Video shows IDF recruitment campaign targeting Ukrainians 
 
A recent video circulating on X and being advertised on YouTube depicts a soldier with no obvious affiliation calling on Ukrainians to join the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in exchange for money, citizenship, career opportunities and housing.  
 
REALITY: This video is a deepfake, likely created using synthetic speech. The footage itself is real, originally appearing on the official IDF TikTok account, and shows an IDF member sharing support hotline numbers for families and soldiers. The deepfake version is in a different language and uses an entirely fabricated script.

Above: Instagram post showing chalk message at Stanford

 

FALSE NARRATIVE: Antisemitic students left chalked message at Stanford University event

A photo circulating on X, Instagram and other platforms showed an antisemitic statement written in chalk outside a sit-in for Palestine at Stanford University. The message read, "Come chat about how Jewish babies should be burned alive," followed by a smiley face.

REALITY: While the chalk writing was real, the intent was misunderstood. According to Stanford University President Richard Saller, the message was written by a member of the Jewish community who was trying to make a sarcastic statement against the pro-Palestine event. This individual later apologized and erased the message.

Above: Misleading headline shared alongside graphic content, reshared on X

 

FALSE NARRATIVE: Video shows Hamas killing pregnant woman and unborn child

A graphic video circulated recently on platforms like X purportedly showing a Hamas militant cutting the fetus out of a pregnant Israeli woman while she was still alive. The video was shared alongside testimony from a first responder, who is speaking English.

REALITY: The video in question is several years old, dating back as early as 2018, and is believed to show a brutal murder by members of the Mexican cartel. While the story about the pregnant Israeli victim has not been confirmed, it is based on real testimony from a member of ZAKA, a volunteer search and rescue organization in Israel.

UPDATED November 3, 2023:

 
Above: Conspiratorial commentator Jackson Hinkle shares false claim on Telegram 
 
FALSE NARRATIVE: Yemen has officially declared war on Israel 

On October 31, 2023, Houthi rebels in Yemen announced they were responsible for missile attacks on Israel in support of Palestine. Soon after, rumors on social media alleged that the attacks signified Yemen’s official declaration of war on Israel.  
 
REALITY: Yemen has not declared war on Israel. The Houthi rebels responsible for the attack do not represent the country’s formally recognized government. Claims about Yemen’s supposed declaration of war appeared to come from non-credible accounts on social media rather than verified news outlets.

 
Above: User on X minimizes threat by suggesting “Russian troll hacker” was responsible  
 
FALSE NARRATIVE: Antisemitic threats at Cornell were inauthentic or “planted” to sow fear 

On October 29, 2023, an anonymous user posted antisemitic threats on the Cornell-affiliated section of an online forum called Greekrank. The posts mentioned locations specific to Cornell, encouraging others to rape and slit the throats of Jewish people on campus. On X and Telegram, skeptics suggested that the messages were planted by law enforcement or Jewish organizations to sow fear. Others alleged that the posts were not from a Cornell student, but rather from Russian bots.  
 
REALITY: On October 31, 2023, police arrested 21-year-old Patrick Dai, a Cornell junior believed to be responsible for the threats. Classes were cancelled due to the incident, and Dai’s preliminary hearing in federal court is scheduled for November 15, 2023. 
 

Above: TikTok video promoting the false “expired lease” narrative

FALSE NARRATIVE: The Israel-Hamas war is a psyop to distract from Israel’s “expired lease” 

A conspiracy theory circulating on TikTok, Telegram and X posits that Israel’s “Balfour lease” expires at midnight on October 31, 2023, at which point the state of Israel will cease to exist. The theory alleges that the Israel-Hamas war was a coordinated psychological operation meant to distract the world from Israel’s “expiration” while the U.S. military helps to “evict” the Zionists and “fake Jews” from Israel.  
 
REALITY: There is no document known as the “Balfour lease,” but there is the 1917 Balfour Declaration, which was foundational to the establishment of Israel. No historical precedent or current evidence suggests that there is any “expiration date” on this letter. Rhetoric about elaborate government psyops and “fake Jews” is common in conspiratorial, antisemitic and extremist circles and has no factual basis.

Above: A post circulating on WhatsApp with false warning of impending attack

 

FALSE NARRATIVE: Hamas supporters are planning to attack Jewish homes on Halloween

A recent rumor alleges that Jewish communities received a warning about plans for “Hamas supporters” to target Jewish families on Halloween. The rumor alleges that these individuals were “planning to attack Jews” by posing as trick or treaters at homes displaying a Mezuzah.

REALITY: There is no evidence to support these rumors, and no official law enforcement alerts have been issued on the topic. This appears to be entirely unfounded.

UPDATED October 27, 2023:

Above: Instagram post with misleading caption about NYU students’ chan

 

FALSE NARRATIVE: NYU students chanted “we don’t want no Jewish state” at rally 

On October 25, 2023, students at New York University hosted a pro-Palestine rally in Washington Square Park. In several popular posts on Instagram and X, users shared footage of the rally claiming that the demonstrators were chanting, “We don’t want no Jewish state, we want all of it.”  
 
REALITY: The actual chant in question is, “We don’t want no two states, we want all of it,” referencing the proposal of a two-state solution in Israel and Palestine. This chant has been used among demonstrators for years, but like other chants at recent rallies, has been misrepresented on social media. While the rhetoric is still deeply concerning and problematic, the use of the word “Jewish” would suggest that demonstrators were referencing all Jews rather than just the state of Israel. 

Above: Instagram user promoting false narrative about Chuck Schumer’s citizenship

 

FALSE NARRATIVE: U.S Sen Chuck Schumer is a dual citizen of Israel and betraying America  

Anti-Israel users on Instagram and X are promoting the claim that U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is secretly a dual citizen of the United States and Israel, with some calling him an "enemy of the state.” Several posts target Schumer’s proposal to provide aid to Israel, accusing him of prioritizing Israel’s border safety over that of the United States’ own borders. 
 
REALITY: Theories that some members of Congress have dual Israeli citizenship are not new, and are often rooted in conspiratorial and antisemitic narratives. While Schumer is the first Jewish Senate Majority Leader, there is no evidence that he also has Israeli citizenship.

Above: Video shared on X with misleading caption about hospital

 

FALSE NARRATIVE: Video shows the explosion at Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza  

A video circulating on X and Instagram went viral after users alleged that it showed the moment of the explosion at Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza on October 17, 2023. Many users who shared the video alleged the explosion was the result of Israeli airstrikes – a claim that has been widely disputed and remains unconfirmed.  
 
REALITY: The footage in question is several years old, and actually shows airstrikes in Aleppo, Syria. The full video, which was uploaded to a number of sites as early as 2016, also includes a timestamp indicating that the footage was captured in July of 2016.

UPDATED October 25, 2023:

Above: Post on X suggesting Israel has not shown evidence of “real victims”

 

FALSE NARRATIVE: Israel is staging graphic images showing the impact of Hamas’s attack 

Since the October 7 attack, Israeli officials have been releasing photos on social media platforms, including X, showing the bloody aftermath of Hamas’s attack on Israel. Anti-Israel conspiracy theorists have suggested that Israeli propagandists staged the graphic scenes to exaggerate the reality of Hamas’s violence. In some cases, users allege that the blood in the photos is “too light” in color to be real; in other cases, they claimed it was “too dark.” Others argue that photos of blood do not prove the existence of “real victims” in Israel. 
 
REALITY: There is no evidence that these images were staged. Photos and videos showing Hamas murdering Israeli civilians have been verified by on-the-ground sources. The Israeli military also held a private screening for journalists to help dispel the doubt surrounding the attacks, where they showed graphic footage from the bodycams of Hamas militants.

Above: TikTok influencer questions details of Montclair student’s tragic death

 

FALSE NARRATIVE: A Montclair University student was killed by Israel supporters  
 
On October 17, 2023, Abderrahmane “Abdu” Mefti – a freshman at Montclair State University in New Jersey – tragically and unexpectedly died. Immediately, X and TikTok users began to post rumors that Mefti was murdered by pro-Israel students because of his support for Palestine. One post on X said, “ABDU WAS THROWN FROM THE 6th FLOOR WINDOW BY A GROUP OF ZIONIST [sic] FOR DEFENDING PALESTINE.” Others parroted this claim, suggesting that Montclair State University was lying publicly about the cause of Mefti’s death. 
 
REALITY: According to official statements from the university and several student groups, Mefti’s death was not the result of a criminal act or foul play.  

UPDATED October 20, 2023:

Above: Still from Facebook video of CAIR-Chicago press conference

 

FALSE NARRATIVE: Man accused of Islamophobic murder in Chicago was “of Jewish background” 
 
During an October 15, 2023 press conference, CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab suggested that Joseph Czuba, the man charged with murdering a six-year-old Muslim boy in the Chicago area, may be “of Jewish background.” Rehab stated, “This individual, Joseph Czuba…there are claims that he is of Jewish background, and he was incensed by what happened in Israel.” Rehab later cautioned the Muslim community against taking revenge for the tragedy, saying, “Do not let the injustice of an individual or a people cause you to engage in an injustice.” 
 
REALITY: According to statements from his legal team and local church representatives, Czuba is Catholic. Czuba’s public defender told CBS that Czuba “was a longtime member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Plainfield.” The Diocese of Joliet, Illinois also confirmed this to Our Sunday Visitor.

Above: TikTok video showing misleading text and footage

 

FALSE NARRATIVE: Videos show large portions of Israel on fire

A video on TikTok has gone viral after showing a montage of devastating fires, which the original poster claims is happening in Israel. The caption reads, “The war in Israel is out of control,” and footage shows homes, buildings and an entire horizon up in flames.

REALITY: At least some portions of this TikTok were pulled from footage of recent wildfires in Argentina, which broke out around October 10, 2023. Much of the content was taken directly from YouTube videos of the blaze. The video on TikTok is still live, has over 106K likes and has been shared over 16K times.

UPDATED October 19, 2023:

_{Post on X claiming to show October 17, 2023, rocket misfire in Gaza.}

 

FALSE NARRATIVE: Video shows moment of supposed rocket misfire over Al-Ahli hospital  

On October 17, 2023, an explosion at Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza, reportedly killed hundreds of innocent civilians. As social media users attempted to quickly understand what caused the explosion, conflicting details emerged, as did several videos purportedly showing footage of the blast. One frequently viewed video on X claimed to show a Hamas rocket’s “failed launch.”  
 
REALITY: This video was originally posted as early as August 2022 on X (then Twitter), Facebook and more. Its origins remain unclear, but many believe it shows a 2022 airstrike on Gaza. While experts are still vetting the details surrounding the October 17 deadly explosion at the hospital, early reports from independent sources and the IDF assess that it was likely caused by a failed rocket launch by the terrorist group Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ), not Hamas. 

_{Post on X warning users about “Palestinian front organization.”}

 

FALSE NARRATIVE: A Palestinian terrorist group is posing as a Jewish organization to secretly gather information 

Around October 16, 2023, rumors circulated in Jewish communities and on social media claiming an organization called LoveIsrael – whose members were supposedly “calling people and asking for the names of soldiers” to pray for them – is actually a front by Palestinian terrorists to collect Israeli soldiers’ contact information. Users on X warned against providing any names, calling it a “security threat.”  
 
REALITY: There is no documented evidence of these calls, nor is there any evidence supporting a link between this group and Palestine. A pro-Israel Christian group called LoveIsrael does proselytizing work in Israel, but there is no evidence that this ministry is responsible for making these alleged calls.   

Above: Racist Telegram user promoting "replacement theory"

FALSE NARRATIVE: Israel will attack Palestine to expedite The Great Replacement

White supremacists and antisemites are claiming that the Israel-Hamas war will help speed replacement of white people by forcing people of color out of Palestine and into predominantly white countries in Europe and North America. One poster in a white supremacist Telegram chat claimed Hamas was an “Israel created proxy,” saying the invasion “was a planned attack to import more nonwhites into white countries.” On another Telegram channel, a poster commented on the prospect of Palestinian refugees in the United States: “This is clearly part of the white replacement agenda.” 

REALITY: These conspiratorial claims play directly into antisemitic tropes inherent to “Replacement Theory,” which alleges that people of color are “replacing” white people through immigration, high birth rates and other social or political means. Many white supremacists and extremists believe this phenomenon is being orchestrated by Jews. These theories are entirely unfounded, and while they have been debunked repeatedly for years, extremists often use world events to promote them. 

_{Post on X sharing TikTok debunk video.}

 

FALSE NARRATIVE: Video proves the attack on the Supernova music festival was fake  

A TikTok video went viral after users falsely claimed it showed attendees of the Supernova music festival fleeing from Hamas. Days later, a debunking video from Reuters clarified that the footage in question was actually from a Bruno Mars concert in Tel Aviv, days before the attack. Posters on X then used the Reuters video to promote the conspiracy theory that Hamas’s attack on the music festival was fabricated or exaggerated, calling it Israeli propaganda. One post, which has more than 1.8 million views, included the Reuters video with the caption, “All of their lies are coming to light. #FreePalaestine [sic]” 
 
REALITY: Debunking videos are typically effective in clearing up misinformation. However, in this case, they were used to allege more false narratives by anti-Israel conspiracy theorists to invalidate the reality of Hamas’s violent attack on civilians at Supernova. Numerous hostages were taken from the festival and more than 260 attendees were killed; much of this is well-documented on video and substantiated by eyewitnesses, as well as family members desperate to find their missing loved ones. 

_{Instagram post falsely alerting New Yorkers.}

 

FALSE NARRATIVE: New York City faced credible threats of terrorism on “Friday of Al-Aqsa Flood”

Hamas issued an official statement designating October 13, 2023, "the Friday of Al-Aqsa Flood,” and called for gatherings in solidarity with Palestine. A video also surfaced that showed founding member and former Hamas leader, Khaled Mashal, advising that supporters "send a message of rage to Zionists and to America." Soon after, rumors began to spread that New York City was already facing threats of imminent terrorism. On Instagram and WhatsApp, users alleged that law enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security had issued warnings against attending synagogue or taking public transportation. One post said, “All New Yorkers should be concerned,” adding that “Hamas-terror activists” were “roaming” the streets. 

REALITY: While Hamas’s declaration prompted understandable fear and security advisories, the claims about verified threats in New York City had no factual basis. On October 12, 2023, the NYPD issued a statement on X addressing these rumors, clarifying that there were ”no specific, credible threats to New York City,” and that heightened security was being provided to vulnerable areas “out of an abundance of caution.” Ultimately, no organized terror attacks took place in New York City on October 13. 

ORIGINAL POST: October 15, 2023 

_{TikTok comments alleging the Hamas attack was “fake news.”}

 

FALSE NARRATIVE: Israel purposely coordinated Hamas’s attack 

Antisemitic influencers and conspiracy theorists claim that Israel was responsible for the Hamas attacks. On TikTok, some claimed that the Israeli government or Mossad created Hamas as part of a “Zionist plan,” alleging that the recent invasion was purposely coordinated to justify colonization or the genocide of Palestinians. White supremacist Nick Fuentes called the attack “suspicious,” suggesting Israel will “benefit from this crisis both domestically and internationally.”  

REALITY: The claim that Israel or Jews orchestrated antisemitic atrocities plays into an age-old trope about Jewish control and manipulation. The truth is that Hamas, an acronym that stands for the Islamic Resistance Movement, was founded in 1987 by members of the Muslim Brotherhood and religious factions of the PLO. The U.S.-designated terrorist organization’s charter states that they have a religious obligation to wage war on Israel.

_{QAnon influencer on Telegram accuses CNN anchor of acting.}

 

FALSE NARRATIVE: Israel hired “crisis actors” to exaggerate the conditions of the war  

Posters on X, TikTok and other platforms allege that terror victims or reporters on the scene in Israel are “crisis actors.” In one instance, users on Telegram and X accused CNN reporter Clarissa Ward of “acting” for taking cover during a live broadcast in Israel as rockets were fired overhead. On TikTok, a different video showed a film crew surrounding an actor who was lying on the ground, alleging it was proof that Israel was planting fake victims. 

REALITY: Baseless claims about “crisis actors” are common among conspiracy theorists and are typically spread with the intent of undermining trust in the media and downplaying tragic events. There is ample documentation of Ward’s experience in Israel, which was broadcast by CNN, and Snopes identified the TikTok video in question as behind-the-scenes footage from an April 2022 short film.  
 

_{Unfounded claim on Facebook.}

 

FALSE NARRATIVE: Armed terrorists in the U.S. are disguising themselves as Jews 

On Facebook and WhatsApp, rumors circulated that Hamas militants are already in U.S. cities, disguised as either Hasidic Jews or rabbis and hiding “a fully automatic rifle” or “an explosive vest.” Some alleged that these individuals were asking people in New York City if they were Jewish, theoretically attempting to find targets. 

REALITY: There has been no corroborating evidence or video for this claim, and law enforcement has not notified communal security professionals or the public of such a threat. This is but one of many false claims circulating about imaginary law enforcement “warnings.”

_{Viral TikTok showing children in cages; original source unclear.}

 

FALSE NARRATIVE: Israeli children are being held hostage in cages 

Users on platforms like TikTok, X and Telegram have shared footage from past conflicts trying to pass it off as current developments in Israel or Palestine. One frequently viewed video showed children being held in cages, and social media users claimed the children were Israeli hostages taken by Hamas. 

REALITY: This claim was dispelled by fact-checkers and journalists, who confirmed the video is not connected to the Hamas hostage-taking. Other versions of the video were circulating online before the attack, and users have previously linked it to terrorist actions in Syria and Afghanistan, among others.  

_{Still from video shared via WhatsApp.}

 

FALSE NARRATIVE: Video shows hostage taken from Supernova music festival being burned alive 

Users on platforms including X and WhatsApp shared a disturbing video of a young women being burned alive, claiming she was one of the hostages taken by Hamas at the Supernova music festival near Kibbutz Re’im. 

REALITY: While it is true that hostages were taken from that music festival, researchers have confirmed that the video in question actually shows a girl being murdered in a Guatemalan village in 2015. 

_{Laura Loomer shares unconfirmed threats of Hamas invasion in U.S. on X.}

 

FALSE NARRATIVE: Hamas militants are planning to invade the U.S. via the southern border 

Far-right influencers and politicians are using anxiety sparked by Hamas’s attack to fuel fearmongering narratives about the U.S. southern border, alleging that Hamas “sleeper cells” are planning to infiltrate and attack cities across the country. 

REALITY: On October 11, 2023, CBS News reported that there is no evidence of Hamas militants having been arrested in recent years at the U.S. southern border, noting that the Department of Homeland Security continues to monitor and vet any potential threats against the U.S. posed by terrorist organizations. Those voicing this falsehood, including conspiratorial figures Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Laura Loomer, have expressed anti-immigrant sentiment in the past, and appear to be exaggerating the current threat to further that agenda.