Staff Reports
A recent video that was disseminated on the social media platform X (previously known as Twitter) purports to depict an Israeli tank incursion orchestrated by Hamas. A fact check, however, demonstrates that this assertion is false. The video is not authentic; rather, it contains footage extracted from the military simulation game ARMA 3. Social media users have been discussing the video, with one commenting, "The scene of al-Qassam Brigades destroying numerous Israeli tanks simultaneously during the Gaza War; Israel is suffering heavy losses of life and property." It is essential to observe, however, that this video does not depict actual events precisely.
FACT CHECK: Video Claims To Show Hamas Ambush On Israeli Tanks https://t.co/7CKl4TZAZ0 via @DailyCaller
— Chris 🇺🇸 (@Chris_1791) November 21, 2023
The New York Times reports that tanks have been observed in the vicinity of the Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza. While this information pertains to the ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict, it is not associated with the specific video under consideration. The video in question originates from an extended YouTube video that was published towards the end of October. It is explicitly stated in the video's description: "This video depicts a simulation of a virtual game. There may be variations between the battle simulation and the real one. We simulate news articles that are published. "Video of ARMA Game Play." This description provides additional evidence that the video in question is a simulated representation and not an authentic one.
As documented by NPR, social media has been inundated with outdated videos, video game clips, and other false and misleading information concerning the Israeli-Hamas conflict. This misinformation exacerbates the existing state of perplexity regarding the situation. It is imperative that users exercise prudence and authenticate information prior to disseminating it. As a result, the assertion that the video depicts a Hamas ambush on Israeli vehicles is unfounded, given that it merely consists of military simulation game footage.
