Tag Archives: Middle East

Did global poll show Putin 2X more popular than Biden?!

Did a global poll show that twice as many people would prefer Vladimir Putin as President than Joe Biden?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Global Poll Shows Putin 2X More Popular Than Biden!

People are sharing an article (archive) by The People’s Voice (formerly NewsPunch), which claims that a global poll just showed that twice as many people would prefer Vladimir Putin as President than Joe Biden!

Here is an excerpt of the article. Feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!

Global Poll Reveals Twice as Many People Would Prefer Putin as President Than Biden

Russian President Vladimir Putin is far more popular around the world than Joe Biden, according to the results of a new global poll that reveals the US is losing influence around the world under Biden’s “weak leadership.”

The poll was conducted by Al-Monitor in partnership with data analytics firm Premise and asked which of the three world leaders they viewed “most favorably.”

44.4% of those surveyed said they viewed Putin most favorably, followed by Chinese President Xi Jinping with 33.8%, while only 21.7% said they preferred Biden.

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Truth : Global Poll Did Not Show Putin 2X More Popular Than Biden!

This is yet another example of fake news created / promoted by The People’s Voice, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : It Was Not A Global Poll

Let me start by pointing out that the Al-Monitor poll which was the basis of the The People’s Voice article was not a global poll. It only covered three Middle Eastern countries – Egypt, Iraq, Turkey; and one North African country – Tunisia.

That’s only a fraction of Middle Eastern and North African countries – just three out of 18 countries in the Middle East, and just one in seven countries in North Africa . It’s not even a regional poll. It also did not include influential countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), or Jordan.

More importantly, the poll covers just 4 of the 195 countries around the world. So the poll does not show that Vladimir Putin is twice as popular as Joe Biden around the world.

Fact #2 : Al-Monitor Poll Did Not Show Waning US Influence

The Al-Monitor poll also does not show the US losing influence around the world under President Joe Biden, as the The People’s Voice article claimed.

In fact, the Al-Monitor poll actually showed that 40% of respondents agreed that the US is still “best equipped to help solve the Israel-Hamas war”, compared to Russia (27.9%) or China (13.4%).

In other words, the respondents overwhelmingly believe that the US is still far more influential than Russia, at least in resolving the Israel-Hamas war.

Fact #3 : Al-Monitor Did Not Refer To Biden’s Weak Leadership

The People’s Voice article suggests that the Al-Monitor polling showed that the US was losing influence due to President Joe Biden’s “weak leadership.

The Al-Monitor article (archive) suggested that Washington’s popularity suffered due to its support of Israel’s war in Gaza, and said nothing about Biden’s leadership qualities.

Again, the Al-Monitor poll showed that 40% of respondents agreed that the US is still “best equipped to help solve the Israel-Hamas war”, compared to Russia (27.9%) or China (13.4%).

That sounds like a tacit acknowledgement that people in those four countries trust Biden far more than Putin in helping to resolve the Israel-Hamas war.

Fact #4 : The People’s Voice Is Known For Fake News

The People’s Voice is the current name for NewsPunch, which possibly changed its name because its brand has been so thoroughly discredited after posting numerous shocking but fake stories.

Founded as Your News Wire in 2014, it was rebranded as NewsPunch in November 2018, before becoming The People’s Voice. A 2017 BuzzFeed report identified NewsPunch as the second-largest source of popular fake news on Facebook that year.

Its articles have been regularly debunked as fake news, so you should never share anything from NewsPunch / The People’s Voice. Here are some of its fake stories that I fact checked earlier:

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He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Did Brooklyn Couple Steal Palestinian Couple’s Home?!

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Did a couple from Brooklyn steal a home that was once owned by an elderly Palestinian couple?!

Take a look at the photo that Michael Moore made viral, and find out what the FACTS really are!

Updated @ 2024-04-06 : Updated after photo went viral again
Originally posted @ 2021-05-24

Claim : Brooklyn Couple Stole Palestinian Couple’s Home!

People keep sharing this photo as evidence that Americans / Israelis are stealing Palestinian homes, every time there is a conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

It notably went viral in May 2021, after Michael Moore posted it (archive) on his Facebook wall, and it has gone viral every few months since then, and most notably after the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

If someone took/stole your home right now, and moved you out because a theocracy ordered it — or what if this same theocracy bulldozed your home and tossed you out into a field and told you and your children to GTF outta here — what would YOUR response be?

What would you have the moral right to do about it? And to be perfectly clear, I don’t care if it was a Christian Fascist German soldier in 1941 forcibly removing you from your home, or an American bank in 2008 forcibly removing you and kicking you to the curb while taking your home — it’s gut-check time, folks (and yes, I mean you too, fellow pacifists):

What would you have the moral and human right and DUTY to do about it, to respond to it, to stop it? And would the rest of the world just stand by and let you suffer as it so often does?

When do we all just put a stop to this, to grind the gears of the machine to a complete halt and replace the plutocracy (we’re not a democracy), the theocracy (you’re not a democracy), and any racial, religious or corporate supremacy with TRUE democracy, FULL human rights, and love?

Truth : Brooklyn Couple Did Not Steal Palestinian Couple’s Home!

This is a rather iconic photo – a Palestinian couple looking at what used to be their ancestral home, now occupied by an Israeli couple. We decided to investigate the photo, and here was what we found…

Fact #1 : The Photo Was Taken In Israel

This photo is genuine, and was taken in the village of Ijzim, about 30 minutes south of Haifa in Israel.

Just to be clear, Ijzim is not in the West Bank, or the Gaza Strip – territory under partial or full Palestinian control.

Fact #2 : The Photo Was Taken In 2020

Despite what people may say, this photo was not taken recently. It was taken and published in May 2020. The last time the elderly Palestinian couple was in Ijzim was 72 years prior to the photo.

Fact #3 : Ijzim Was Depopulated In 1948

Israel captured Ijzim during the 1948 War, and the majority of the villagers fled or were expelled during the Palestinian Nakba (Catastrophe). The Israelis quickly demolished the Arab houses to make way for permanent Jewish settlements.

Photo credit : Fred Csasznik – Front cover of The Birth of the Palestinian Refugee Problem by Benny Morris, Cambridge University Press 1989.

Fact #4 : Palestinians No Longer Own These Lands

While the Nakba can be argued as morally wrong, this is not an uncommon practice whenever a country annexes or conquers a region.

For example, the Soviet Union expelled Germans from East Prussia after World War 2, and gave the southern part to Poland, while Lithuania was given the northern part.

Today, East Prussia is part of Poland and Lithuania – both members of the European Union and NATO. Germans who were expelled between 1945 and 1949 can visit their ancestral homes, but they cannot claim ownership over those lands.

More directly – there is no evidence the elderly Palestinian couple have any paper to prove their prior ownership of the land on which their home used to be.

Fact #5 : The House Was Not Their Home

The house in the photo is not the same house that the elderly Palestinian couple used to live in. That house, which belonged to the Palestinian man’s father, was demolished during the Nakba, and a new home was built on the land.

So it is factually wrong to say that the elderly Palestinian couple was looking at “the house they once lived in“. The house they were looking at is completely different from the house they once lived in.

That does not mean that the Palestinian couple has no right to feel hurt over their loss. It was, after all, where they once lived. But whether they are entitled to that land that they abandoned more than 70 years ago is another question altogether.

Fact #6 : It Was Part Of An Al-Jazeera Project

For those who doubt the authenticity of the photo, I can confirm that it is genuine and was taken as part of an al-Jazeera project.

In May 2020, Najwan Simri of Al Jazeera took an elderly Palestinian couple to visit their original homes and to meet their current Israeli residents. Here is the Al Jazeera video clip, as well as an English translation.

Some towns and cities inside the Green Line will become the hope of those in the diaspora. But they will also become a station of refuge for others.

Here lives a family uprooted from a nearby village. We had an appointment with Hajjeh Im Samir to accompany her there. Her [ailing] husband insisted on coming with us because he said the air of Ijzim is the best cure.

Despite its beauty, the road there seems desolate as if it gets you to the place but doesn’t take you there. Eagerly, Im Samir organizes our tour for us and tells us the names of the [Palestinian] owners of the houses.

Our first stop is God’s house. Its stones have been preserved as they were. Alone, the colors of its locked doors change each time the dryness of the seasons intensifies.

Here, Abu Samir does not stay in the car because this stop [station] is the location for which he has most longed in order to banish the other stations of his life. “This was our house, my father’s house. After the ‘48 wars, the Jews occupied it.”

After a few minutes, the residents of the house come out to [the gate]. They ask us what we want. We say, this is the owner of the house; how do you feel living in a house built on the wreckage of his house? [The answer] Frankly, I don’t feel anything. I am very happy. Living here is very enjoyable.

How strange is the distance between the owner of the house and he who is occupying it. How strange is the irony between he who has to stand inside the gate and he who must stand outside the gate. How strong Abu Samir is! For other uprooted people have refused to accompany us [on our tour]. One of them told us that he cannot bear to glimpse through the window of his father’s house a foreigner living there.

And that [glimpse] could possibly be of a strange symbol, like [what is glimpsed through the window] of a stolen [Palestinian] school converted into a temple with an emblem [the flag of Israel] that is not as old as the memory of the stones of the school.

And so, an extreme picture! It is said that the passage of time helps in forgetting, but, in the Palestinian case, it seems that the equation of time is different and that the years are merely a number. Rather, the longer the banishment of the Palestinians is, the more they remember.

– This is Najwan Simri, reporting from the depopulated village of Ijzim for Al Jazeera.

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Fact #7 : No Evidence The Couple Was From Brooklyn

The most authoritative source for this photo was Al Jazeera, and even they did not identify the Israeli couple, much less confirmed that they were from Brooklyn, New York City.

Despite my extensive searching, I could find no source to back up this claim. None of the earlier posts using this picture – in May to June 2020 – even mentioned that the Israeli couple were from Brooklyn.

Therefore, it is highly likely that their Brooklyn origin is completely bogus, and was added much later.

Many detractors have pointed out that this is of no importance. If that is true, then I ask – why lie about this? Why claim, without evidence, that the couple was from Brooklyn?

IMHO, it must have been important for the people who added this “Brooklyn” connection to tie this “occupation” of Palestinian land to the Americans. Hence, the necessity to claim that the Israeli couple was from the United States.

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Did Israel Just Tear Up UN Human Rights Notice?!

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Did an Israeli representative just TEAR UP a notice issued by the UN on Israel’s human rights violations in the 2023 Israel-Hamas War?!

Take a look at the viral video, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Israel Envoy Tore Up UN Human Rights Notice!

People are sharing a video, which claimed to show an Israeli representative tearing up a 20-page notice that the UN issued to Israel for violating human rights during the Israel-Hamas War of October 2023.

BIG BREAKING 🔥⚡️
UN issued 20-page notice to Israel that it has violated human rights Israeli representatives came on stage for 2 minutes, took the notice in their hands tore it, and threw it away saying that terrorists have no human rights.
The World Loves Israel. #IsraelAttack #IsraelPalestineConflict #HamasWarCrimes

United Nations summoned Israel and gave them a report on human rights violations. Israeli representative come on the stage, tore the report and went away. 57 countries with green flags could do nothing about it. This is how a strong and powerful country answers.

Truth : Israel Envoy Tore UNHCR Report In 2021, Not 2023

We looked into the claim or suggestion that an Israeli representative tore up a notice that the UN issued to Israel for violating human rights, and here was what we found…

Fact #1 : Video Was Recorded In October 2021

The viral video is genuine, but it was recorded almost two years ago – on October 29, 2021.

This video has nothing to do with the October 2023 war between Israel and Hamas.

Fact #2 : It Was A Report, Not A Notice

The paper that was torn up in the viral video was not a notice that the UN issued to Israel for violating human rights. It was the UNHCR’s annual report.

Fact #3 : That Was Ambassador Gilad Erdan

The man in the video is Ambassador Gilad Erdan, who was addressing the UN General Assembly after the UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) issued its annual report.

In his speech, he said that the UN had a history of anti-Israel bias, and referred to the 1975 General Assembly resolution that labelled Zionism as “racism” – a designation that was only revoked in 1991.

Today, I addressed the @UN General Assembly and spoke out against the baseless, one-sided, and outright false accusations from the Human Rights Council’s annual report.

…

It was on this stage at this very body that the very right of the Jewish people to have a national home was itself declared to be racist. A decision that was justly over-turned. A decision that Israel’s Ambassador at the time, Chaim Herzog, tore up before the United Nations.

So to, the Human Rights Council’s obsessive anti-Israel bias, embodied, once again, by this report, should have no place in any body concerned with human rights, security or peace. It’s only place is in the dustbin of antisemitism, and that is exactly how we shall treat it.

And that was when Gilad Erdan tore a page (or two) from the UNHCR annual report.

Gilad Erdan himself posted a video of his speech on X (formerly Twitter), confirming both the date and the circumstances behind his actions.

Today, I addressed the @UN General Assembly and spoke out against the baseless, one-sided, and outright false accusations from the Human Rights Council's annual report. 1/8 pic.twitter.com/b4YIv2jGaK

— Ambassador Gilad Erdan גלעד ארדן (@giladerdan1) October 29, 2021

Fact #4 : Gilad Erdan Spoke For More Than 2 Minutes

The message that accompanied the viral video claimed that Gilad tore the report in his 2-minute speech. This may seem like a small point, but even this point is categorically false.

The video that went viral WhatsApp and social media is only 28 seconds long, and Gilad Erdan himself posted a video clip that lasted 1 minute and 29 seconds.

However, there is a longer video of his speech lasting over 3 minutes. So we know for a fact that Gilad spoke for at least 3 minutes, if not longer.

Fact #5 : Israel Has Been Condemned Many Times

Frankly, that is hardly the first time that Israel was condemned by the Human Rights Council and/or UNHCR; and it was unlikely to be the last time either.

As Gilad Erdan pointed out in the longer version of his viral speech, Israel had been condemned by the Human Rights Council with 95 resolutions so far.

Since the establishment of the council 15 years ago, it has decided to blame and condemn Israel not 10 times like Iran or 35 times like Syria….the Human Rights Council has attacked Israel with 95 resolutions. Compared to 142 against all other countries combined.

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Is Highly-Vaccinated Israel Facing Dramatic COVID Surge?!

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Is highly-vaccinated Israel facing a dramatic surge in new COVID-19 cases?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Highly-Vaccinated Israel Sees Dramatic COVID Surge!

The infamous Died Suddenly account on X (formerly Twitter) just posted a screenshot of an article by Daniel Estrin which proclaims “Highly Vaccinated Israel Is Seeing A Dramatic Surge In New COVID Cases. Here’s Why“.

It has been shared by hundreds of people, with comments like these:

Mike Jagger : Imagine our Surprise …

WordOfMouth : The vaccine is the ‘virus’. Those March 2020 receipts feel so famn good.

Sovereign : RIP Sheep

Truth : Israel Is Not Currently Facing Dramatic COVID Surge!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS posted by the infamous Died Suddenly account on X (formerly Twitter), and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Screenshot Was From 2021 NPR Article

Whenever someone posts a screenshot, instead of a link to the article itself, you should be wary.

In this case, Died Suddenly posted a screenshot from an NPR article that was published by Daniel Estrin on August 20, 2021 (link).

That’s more than two years ago. Why would anyone post a screenshot of an old article???

Fact #2 : NPR Article Date Was Edited Out

Interestingly, the screenshot that Died Suddenly posted has a suspicious gap, where the article date was supposed to be.

It appears that the screenshot had the article date deliberately edited out. Now, why would anyone do that???

Fact #3 : Israel Didn’t Vaccinate Enough People

The NPR article explained how Israel was the first country on Earth to fully-vaccinated a majority of its citizens against COVID-19. That said, its “highly-vaccinated” status was only in comparison to the rest of the world.

As the article explained, Israel had only fully-vaccinated slightly over half its population by March 25, 2021; when it reopened its economy, even removing all restrictions in June 2021.

It also pointed out that only 58% of Israel citizens were fully vaccinated (at that time), which experts said isn’t high enough.

Fact #4 : NPR Article Clearly States Vaccination Helps

The NPR article explained how Israel was seeing a surge of new COVID-19 cases in August 2021, despite being highly-vaccinated. Protection from its early vaccinations waned, and coincided with the arrival of the more infectious Delta variant.

But while infection rates went up, the article also explained that “if you get infected, being vaccinated helps”. It pointed out that the rate of serious COVID-19 amongst unvaccinated people over 60 was 9X higher than the rate of serious COVID-19 in vaccinated people of the same age.

Fact #5 : Israel Does Not Currently Have Any COVID-19 Surge

Just in case you are wondering – Israel is not currently seeing any surge in new COVID-19 cases – dramatic or otherwise. In fact, Israel has recorded low numbers of COVID-19 cases in 2023, as this chart shows.

Fact #6 : This Is Just Fake News By Died Suddenly

This is ultimately just another example of fake news posted by the infamous Died Suddenly account on X (formerly Twitter). Here are other examples:

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Israel FM Eli Cohen Confirm Hamas Put Children In Cages?!

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Did Israel Foreign Minister Eli Cohen confirm that Hamas is putting Israeli children in cages?!

Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Israel FM Eli Cohen Confirm Hamas Put Children In Cages!

People are sharing articles which claim that Israel Foreign Minister recently confirm that Hamas is putting Israeli children in cages, after capturing them in their October 2023 raid!

Jewish News Syndicate : Israeli foreign minister: Israeli toddlers being held in cages in Gaza

(October 9, 2023 / JNS) Kidnapped Israeli toddlers are being held in cages in Gaza, Eli Cohen, Israel’s foreign minister, said on Monday evening in a press conference in Israel.

“They’re monsters, inhuman terrorists,” Cohen said.

Akron Jewish News : Israeli foreign minister: Footage of Israeli toddlers in cages in Gaza is real

Cleveland Jewish News : Israeli foreign minister: Footage of Israeli toddlers in cages in Gaza is real

Photos and videos of kidnapped Israeli toddlers being held in cages in Gaza are authentic, Eli Cohen, Israel’s foreign minister, said on Monday evening in a press conference in Israel.

“They’re monsters, inhuman terrorists,” Cohen said. Adults are heard laughing in the video footage, as a camera pans across five crying children clinging to the bars of rows of cages.

https://www.techarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/WhatsApp-Video-2023-10-09-at-13.08.04.mp4?_=1

Truth : Eli Cohen Said Hamas Put Children In Cages, But…

We looked into the claims that Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen confirmed in a press conference that Hamas were putting Israeli children it captured in cages, and here was what we found…

Fact #1 : Eli Cohen Did Actually Say That

None of those articles actually shared any video evidence of Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen confirming that Hamas was locking up Israeli children in cages.

However, I located an ANI News recording of a livestreamed press conference (YouTube link), in which Eli Cohen can be seen saying this at around 1:55:

Even [in] the war between Russia and Ukraine, we did not saw murdering entire families, taking captives… small children, and putting them in cages. It’s vicious and evilness that I think the world did not saw before. I think that the only times we saw before was with the Nazis, and maybe with the ISIS.

Fact #2 : JNS Quietly Revamped Its Article

Despite video evidence that Israeli foreign minister Eli Cohen did mention that Hamas was putting small children in cages, there appears to be some “walking back” of that claim.

The Jewish News Syndicate, on its part, appear to have quietly replaced its short article on Eli Cohen confirming that Hamas was locking up Israeli children in cages, to a more generic article called “Eli Cohen: ‘An evil that’s not created even by the devil’“.

However, JNS left its original URL as “https://www.jns.org/israeli-foreign-minister-toddlers-cages/” and we have an archive of its original post. If you compare it with the current post, you will see that they are completely different.

Both the Akron and Cleveland Jewish News websites appear to have obtained their articles as syndicated content from the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS). They have not updated their articles.

On the other hand, I found an article by VINnews that appears to have also quietly removed references to Eli Cohen confirming that Hamas was locking up small children in cages.

Unfortunately, I could not locate an archive of its original post, but the URL suggests that the original title was possibly “Horrific: Israeli Foreign Minister Confirms Footage Of Israeli Toddlers In Cages In Gaza Is Real“.

https://vinnews.com/2023/10/09/horrific-israeli-foreign-minister-footage-of-israeli-toddlers-in-cages-in-gaza-is-real/

Fact #3 : Children In Cages Video Not Related To Hamas Attack

We had earlier looked into the viral video showing small children in cages, and confirmed that it was unrelated to the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.

For one thing – the viral video was posted on TikTok on 4 October 2023 – three days BEFORE the 7 October attack by Hamas on Israel.

A much older example of this viral video was posted on YouTube (archive link) on 27 January 2020. Palestine News claimed that the video showed Palestinian children locked in cages by the Israeli army, and was filmed in Hebron (not Gaza)

Israeli Army Kidnapping Palestinian Children and throwing them in Cages , in Occupied Hebron , VIA B’TSELEM

Several commentators (example) however, claimed that this video was originally recorded in Syria, around 2015. They (example) claimed that the video was recorded by a father who found his children playing in the chicken coop, and locked them up for a laugh. The man, who appeared to be the person recording the video, can be heard laughing heartily in the background.

Unfortunately, I cannot confirm (at the moment) whether this video shows Palestinian children being held captive by Israeli soldiers, or Syrian children locked in a cage by their father. The B’Tselem website, for example, has way too many references to children in cages, and I cannot locate the original video allegedly posted by the Syrian father.

What is certain is that – this video is at least several years old, and is therefore not related to the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel.

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Is Hamas Keeping Jewish Children In Cages?!

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Is Hamas keeping Jewish children it kidnapped from Israel in cages in Gaza?!

Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!

Updated @ 2023-10-11 : Added details of Israeli Foreign Minister’s confirmation
Originally posted @ 2023-10-10

Claim : Jewish Children Held Hostage In Cages By Hamas!

Many people are sharing pictures and/or a video showing five children inside cages, claiming that they were being held hostage by Hamas after being kidnapped in its October 2023 attack on Israel.

Orthodox Canonist : Alleged footage of Hamas keeping children in cages. Why?

What purpose does this serve? Are they Israeli hostages? 🤔💭🇵🇸🇮🇱

Alon Tk : Jewish babies captive in birdcages in Gaza.
These are crimes against Humanity. The whole world needs to see this.
#Israel #Gaza

Ariel Dickmann : Jewish babies kidnapped and tortured in Gaza😡

https://www.techarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/WhatsApp-Video-2023-10-09-at-13.08.04.mp4?_=2

Truth : Hamas Did Not Keep Those Children In Cages!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS circulating on WhatsApp, and social media platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), and here are reasons why…

Fact #1 : The Video Was Recorded Many Years Ago

First, I should point out that one example of this viral video can be found on YouTube (archive link) since 27 January 2020. It received little attention when it was released more than 3 years ago, garnering less than 60 views. Oddly enough, YouTube appears to have taken it down recently “for violating YouTube’s Community Guidelines”.

Several commentators (example) have also claimed that this video was originally recorded in 2015. What is certain is that – this video is at least several years old, and is therefore not related to the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel.

The video was then posted by @user690306825181 (account now removed) on TikTok, where it went viral and was reposted to WhatsApp, Twitter and Facebook.

Fact #2 : TikTok Video Was Posted Before Hamas Attack

The TikTok video itself was actually posted on 4 October 2023 – three days BEFORE the 7 October attack by Hamas on Israel. Here’s the evidence that Fake Reporter on X found.

The TikTok video was not only posted three days earlier – on 4 October, it was being promoted on TikTok. The video therefore has absolutely nothing to do with the Hamas attack on Israel.

Fact #3 : The Video Does Not Show Jewish / Israeli Children

According to the YouTube channel – Palestine News, the video was recorded by B’Tselem – an Israeli NGO that documents human rights violations in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.

Palestine News claimed that the video showed Palestinian children locked in cages by the Israeli army, and was filmed in Hebron. Hebron, incidentally, is located in the West Bank, and not in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

Israeli Army Kidnapping Palestinian Children and throwing them in Cages , in Occupied Hebron , VIA B’TSELEM

On the other hand, other commentators (example) claimed that the video was recorded by a father who found his children playing in the chicken coop, and locked them up for a laugh. The man, who appeared to be the person recording the video, can be heard laughing heartily in the background.

The laugh seems jovial, and the children do not seem particularly upset. One boy even appears to be smiling. Another commentator said that the guy was saying, “You guys gave me a hard time“, and “Don’t bite me“. That would give some credence to the claim that this was a fun video recorded by a father.

However, what seems certain is that these are not Jewish or Israeli children held captive by Hamas, as a result of their 7 October 2023 raid of Israel. After all – this video was recorded and posted before the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas.

Fact #4 : Israel Foreign Minister Appeared To Confirm This

What arguably made this video go viral is the fact that some Jewish news media published reports that Israel Foreign Minister Eli Cohen confirmed that the video of Israeli children being held in cages in Gaza was genuine.

Cohen appeared to have made those comments during a live-streamed press conference. But it appears that it was a mistake, and some of those articles have removed references to the video, or Cohen’s claim.

For more details, you can read our separate fact check : Israel FM Eli Cohen Confirm Hamas Put Children In Cages?!

Fact #5 : This Is Just Misinformation

Ultimately, this is just another example of misinformation circulating on WhatsApp, and social media platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), using misappropriated videos.

Here are some other examples that we fact checked recently:

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Did Turkey Earthquake Cause Nuclear Plant Explosion?!

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Did the massive Turkey earthquake cause an atomic explosion at the Akkuyu nuclear power plant?!

Take a look at the viral video, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Turkey Earthquake Caused Nuclear Plant Explosion!

People are sharing a video of a shocking explosion that allegedly happened at a nuclear power plant, after the massive Turkey earthquake.

☢️ Shocking Atomic explosion at a nuclear power plant in Turkey

Atomic explosion at a nuclear power plant in Turkey.

Due to the last earthquake produced in Turkey, the massive explosion of a nuclear power plant is reported. At the moment, more information about the event is unknown or if it has caused fatalities. But judging by the images, it is very possible that there were deaths and injuries in the areas near the explosion. We will keep reporting.

Truth : Turkey Earthquake Did Not Cause Nuclear Plant Explosion!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created by a YouTube channel to generate money, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant Is Still Under Construction

Turkey does not have any operational nuclear power plants, and only one under construction – the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in Büyükeceli, in the Mersin Province.

The first reactor is only scheduled to be completed later in 2023, but it may be delayed by sanctions placed on Rosatom – the Russian company building the nuclear power plant.

Fact #2 : Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant Was Undamaged By Earthquake

On Monday, February 6, 2023, a major magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck central Turkey and northwest Syria.

Fortunately, the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant was only hit by magnitude 3 tremors, and was not damaged.

Earth tremors of about magnitude 3 were felt here… but our specialists have not revealed any damage to building structures, cranes and equipment.

Nevertheless, we are carrying out extensive diagnostic measures to make sure that construction and installation operations can continue safely.

– Anastasia Zoteeva, Rosatom spokesperson

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concurred, stating that there was “no impact” from the earthquakes in Turkey, and the nuclear power plant under construction was “unaffected“.

As of now, no impact from earthquakes on nuclear safety & security in Türkiye, its Nuclear Regulatory Authority told IAEA; no issues so far related to radiological safety & security of radioactive sources, & the country's under construction nuclear power plant is unaffected.

— IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) February 6, 2023

Fact #3 : No Report Of Explosion In Mainstream Media

A nuclear power plant explosion would have been big news, and yet, there is no mention of such an explosion in any media outlet. Not CNN, not BBC, not even RT in Russia or CCTV in China.

That’s because this Turkey nuclear power plant explosion never happened. It’s a hoax. Fake news!

Fact #4 : Photo Was From Stock Photography Website

I traced the cover photo of the Turkey nuclear explosion to a stock photography website called Pixabay.

The YouTube video creator, Hide World, used the photo called “Nuclear Explosion Apocalypse” to trick you into believing that there was a nuclear power plant explosion in Turkey.

The image was created by by CristianIS, and posted to the Pixabay website on March 12, 2020.

Fact #5 : Video Showed 2020 Port of Beirut Explosion

The shocking explosion shown in the video created by Hide World was misappropriated from the 2020 Beirut explosion in Lebanon.

On 4 August 2020, a large amount of ammonium nitrate stored at the Port of Beirut exploded, killing at least 218 people and devastating the port and its surrounding areas.

The video that Hide World used was taken by a witness at a restaurant, and showed the second explosion at the Port of Beirut.

You can see the original video (here) posted by Al Arabiya English on 9 August 2020. If you compare that to the Hide World video (below), you can see that they are exactly the same.

Hide World used the Beirut port explosion from 2.5 years ago, to trick you into believing that it’s a video of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant explosion in Turkey.

https://www.techarp.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/☢️-Shocking-Atomic-explosion-at-a-nuclear-power-plant-in-Turkey.mp4?_=3

Fact #6 : This Is Another Example Of Fake YouTube Videos

This is just another example of fake videos created by YouTubers who want to generate more views to build up their channel, or to generate ad money.

Here are some examples of fake YouTube videos that I fact checked in the past:

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Did Saudi Ambassador Muhammad al-Qahtani Die From Vaccine?!

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Did the Saudi Ambassador to Egypt, Muhammad al-Qahtani, die from the COVID-19 vaccine while giving a speech?!

Take a look at the viral video, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Saudi Ambassador Muhammad al-Qahtani Died From Vaccine?!

People are sharing a video which they claim shows the Saudi ambassador Muhammad al-Qahtani collapsing and dying from the COVID-19 vaccine.

Here are some of the comments that accompany the viral video :

The #Saudi ambassador, Muhammad al-Qahtani, fell and died during a speech at a conference in the #Egyptian capital, #Cairo, in which he praised president A-Sisi and described him as “the dean of humanity.

Hmm, how may #clotshot’s did he take? #SaudiArabia #BreakingNews

The Saudi ambassador, Muhammad al-Qahtani, fell and died during a speech at a conference in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.

Sadly doctors confirmed it was caused by Sudden Adult Death Syndrome(SADS), and totally unrelated to all his COVID vaccines.

Truth : Saudi Ambassador al-Qahtani Did Not Die From Vaccine?!

This is yet another example of FAKE NEWS created and propagated by anti-vaccination activists, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : He Was Not Saudi Ambassador To Egypt

First, let me confirm that the man in the video clip – Muhammad al-Qahtani – is NOT the Saudi ambassador to Egypt.

The current Saudi ambassador to Egypt is Osama Naqli, who is very much alive.

In fact, Osama Naqli himself dismissed the false rumour, and also confirmed that the man was not one of Saudi Arabia’s ambassadors, or a Saudi diplomat.

Fact #2 : He Was A Saudi Businessman

The man in the viral video is Saudi businessman Muhammad bin Nasser bin Wazan al-Qahtani, who now resides in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Mr. al-Qahtani owns the Al-Salam Holding Company, and was giving a speech at the Arab-African Conference in Cairo on Monday, 8 August 2022, when he collapsed and died.

This is apparently his Twitter account, and this is a video of him.

pic.twitter.com/KoS3wquWlu

— محمد ابن ناصر وزن القحطاني (@mr_00001) July 6, 2022

Fact #3 : His Cause Of Death Is Currently Unknown

Mr. al-Qahtani was taken away to another room to receive medical attention by security guards, but passed away.

His cause of death is currently unknown. That does not mean he died from “a vaccine injury” or “vaccine side effects”. It means – no one knows why he collapsed and died suddenly.

Until an autopsy is performed and his family reveals his cause of death, anyone who claims that Muhammad al-Qahtani died of this or that cause is lying to you.

Fact #4 : He Collapsed Mid-Speech

In the clearest video of the incident, Mr. al-Qahtani was seen praising UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nas a “dean of humanity and a man of peace” before he paused, and collapsed.

Until his sudden collapse, he does not appear to be ill. The video shows him standing and speaking normally, and he even turned several times to gesture at people to the side.

That does not suggest that he was suffering from any debilitating medical conditions like myocarditis, for example.

محمد بن ناصر بن وزن آل مسعود القحطاني
رجل أعمال سعودي مقيم بالإمارات وتم منحه مناصب شرفية كسفير نوايا حسنة وما إلى ذلك
.
"ستكتب شهادتهم ويُسئلون"
اللهم إنا نسألك حسن الخاتمة pic.twitter.com/pOAILVbIUS

— عصام (@DrEsamBaraka) August 9, 2022

Fact #5 : There Are Thousands Of SADS Deaths Every Year

It is possible that Muhammad al-Qahtani may have died from Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS), also known as Sudden Adult Death Syndrome.

But that does not mean SADS is caused by COVID-19 vaccines. That would be rather ludicrous as SADS was first documented in 1977 – long before COVID-19 vaccines were invented!

SADS also occurs at a rate of 0.12 to 0.21 per 100,000 people every single year. In other words, approximately 9,000 to 16,000 people die from SADS every single year, before the COVID-19 vaccines were invented.

Despite what anti-vaccination activists may tell you – SADS is not a new vaccine-related syndrome.

SADS is usually caused by an abnormal heart rhythm that leads to a cardiac arrest. That’s why it can be prevented by implanting a cardioverter-defribillator.

The UK Office for National Statistics data on Sudden Adult Deaths from 2016 to 2020 also showed NO INCREASE in SADS cases, demonstrating that COVID-19 vaccines did not increase the prevalence of SADS.

Years	Sudden Adult Death Syndrome Cases
2016	116
2017	63
2018	53
2019	87
2020	115

Fact #6 : Unknown If Muhammad al-Qahtani Was Vaccinated

It is currently unknown if Muhammad al-Qahtani was vaccinated against COVID-19, so it would be wrong for anyone to claim that he died from COVID-19 vaccine side effects.

For all we know – he may not even be vaccinated! The COVID-19 vaccine is not mandatory in both Saudi Arabia or the UAE, despite what anti-vaccination activists may claim.

Fact #7 : Vaccine Side Effects Appear Within Hours / Days

Even if Muhammad al-Qahtani was vaccinated against COVID-19, he would have received all of his doses many months ago.

He cannot possibly have died from a vaccine side effect, because they appear within hours or days, not months later.

Mild side effects like injection site pain, fever, muscle ache, headache, lethargy develop within minutes to hours of the vaccination.

Anaphylaxis develops within minutes, while other severe adverse reactions like myocarditis and VITT develop within days.

The spike proteins produced by the COVID-19 vaccines also do not stick around for months. If these spike proteins are permanent (as antivaxxers claim), we would have lifelong immunity.

Your own immune system will identify the spike proteins as foreign, and destroy them within a matter of days, although some may last for up to a few weeks. This is part of how vaccines teach your immune system to identify the enemy and destroy it.

Fact #8 : COVID-19 Vaccines Proven Safe + Effective

COVID-19 vaccines underwent massive clinical trials, and were only approved after they were proven to be safe and effective.

In addition, they were constantly monitored after they received their approvals, which picked up rare side effects after they were administered to billions of people.

Anti-vaccination activists have often claimed that those who received the vaccine would die. Yet, the opposite was true – the vaccines are not only safe, they are effective in protecting people from getting hospitalised or dying from COVID-19.

Even prominent antivaxxer Steve Kirsch is healthy and well, despite being fully-vaccinated against COVID-19!

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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iflix Middle East & North Africa Goes Live!

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April 27, 2017 – iflix today announced the launch of its revolutionary service in eight territories across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

iflix Middle East & North Africa Goes Live!

Consumers in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Lebanon, Egypt and Sudan can now sign up for a 30-day free trial, giving them unlimited access to thousands of the world’s best TV shows, movies and more on every device they own, with no credit card required.

The announcement follows just one month after the iflix launch in Myanmar, its tenth market in Asia, solidifying iflix’s dominance over the region with over six billion minutes streamed across ten countries since first launching in Malaysia and the Philippines in mid-2015.

With the launch of iflix Middle East & North Africa, iflix has established itself as the only international SVoD service with full-scale localized operations in each of its territories and a total global headcount of 700 staff across 24 offices worldwide, including new regional headquarters for MENA based in Dubai, UAE.

Each iflix subscription includes:

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Unlimited access to iflix’s vast library of thousands of first-run exclusive shows, award-winning TV series, blockbuster movies, popular local and regional Arabic and Asian content, children’s programs and much more;
Access to iflix on up to five devices at once, including phones, tablets, laptops, desktops, TVs and other connected devices;
The ability to download TV shows and movies to any phone, tablet or mobile device to binge-watch offline, when not connected to the Internet;
The ability to share the iflix subscription with family or friends and watch shows on two different devices at the same time.

iflix Group Co-founder and CEO, Mark Britt commented: “Our launch in the Middle East and North Africa represents the incredible vision, hard work and sacrifice by everyone in the iflix team. To have grown from a small, but ambitious 20-person operation without a live service to launching a global business, in now our second region with eight new markets and 80 staff in MENA alone in less than two years, is a testament to that commitment. MENA is one of the fastest growing and most exciting online markets in the world with data savvy consumers who share a passion for entertainment. We are thrilled to make iflix’s world class service, premier digital experience and the most comprehensive selection of content available to them, as part of our mission to redefine entertainment in emerging markets.”

Now available in 18 markets across Asia and MENA, iflix offers consumers, a vast library of top Hollywood, Asian regional, and local TV shows and movies including many first run exclusives and award-winning programs, each subscription allows users to access the service on up to five devices, including phones, laptops, tablets, and television sets, for viewing wherever, whenever.

For new subscribers, iflix offers a complimentary one-month trial with full access to its service, features and content.

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