“Tahaqaq” Debunks a Claim Casting Doubt on the Bombing of Displaced Families’ Tents near Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital

The “Gaza_Wood” account on the social media platform X shared a video showing an Israeli aircraft flying in the sky, accompanied by a skeptical caption: “Palestinians are trying to report that a helicopter launched missiles at them, but ballistic missile experts claim it’s easy to recognize that this is fake”.

This statement is part of an ongoing campaign aimed at undermining the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza due to the ongoing war and discrediting their accounts. The video garnered significant engagement, with Western and Israeli accounts amplifying its reach through re-posts.

The Palestinian Observatory “Tahaqaq” investigated the claim accompanying the video by analyzing open sources, using reverse search techniques, and contacting on-the-ground sources. The findings revealed that the claim is misleading, as the video authentically depicts an Israeli airstrike targeting displaced families’ tents near Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah.

The footage was documented by journalist and Palestine Today correspondent Ahmad Al-Barsh on November 9. It clearly shows an Israeli aircraft striking tents housing displaced individuals at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital.

Eyewitness Accounts to “Tahaqaq” Confirm an Israeli Helicopter Launched a Missile at Displaced Families’ Tents

In a statement obtained by “Tahaqaq,” Ahmad Al-Barsh, the videographer and eyewitness to the incident, recounted: “While on a media coverage assignment on Saturday, November 9, around midday, we suddenly heard the distinct sound of a helicopter. Upon sighting it, we observed it flying over the central governorate, specifically above the Al-Zawayda area west of Deir al-Balah. The sound was unmistakable, the aircraft was clearly visible, and its cockpit was evidently oriented toward the hospital.”

Al-Barsh added, “Initially, I did not expect the helicopter was preparing to target the tents of displaced families at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. I instinctively grabbed my phone and pointed the camera at the helicopter. Within seconds, as I was documenting its flight, one of my colleagues warned us about an imminent missile launch. Moments later, a massive explosion occurred, scattering debris and shrapnel around us.”

He continued, “The camera kept recording during the moment of terror and as we fled the blast. I then resumed filming and rushed to the explosion site.” Al-Barsh described “horrific scenes” following the airstrike, which journalists narrowly survived. The attack resulted in several fatalities, dozens of injuries, and fires erupting in the tents.

Al-Barsh provided the “Tahaqaq” team with the original, high-quality footage, which clearly captures the moment of the strike. This evidence decisively debunks the false claim circulating online.

Video Manipulation Detected: Misleading Edits Confirmed in the Circulated Clip

Upon comparing the clip associated with the claim to the original footage documented by the journalist, it was revealed that the video had been manipulated. The first eight seconds of the original footage were slowed down and repeated five consecutive times before transitioning to the remaining scenes.

This pattern of manipulation is strikingly similar to tactics frequently employed in “Pallywood” campaigns promoted by certain accounts. Such edits are designed to focus viewers’ attention on specific scenes while omitting broader context, thereby misleading public opinion and distorting the truth.

Journalist Hani Abu Rizq also confirmed to “Tahaqaq” the authenticity of the video and the airstrike, stating that he was among the survivors of the attack. His press tent and displacement shelter sustained significant damage as a result of the bombing.

The testimonies of journalists Hani Abu Rizq and Ahmad Al-Barsh were further corroborated by activist Saleh Al-Ja’frawi and Al Jazeera correspondent Ashraf Abu Amra, both of whom were present at the scene.

Footage Documents the Destruction Caused by the Airstrike  

Journalists captured multiple videos, later shared by media outlets, clearly depicting the devastation, as well as the blood of the martyrs and injured victims resulting from the attack. Among these was footage aired by Al-Araby TV, showcasing scenes described as the aftermath of the airstrike’s destruction.

In a related statement, the Government Media Office reported that the Israeli occupation forces have bombed tents housing journalists and displaced families at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital for the ninth consecutive time. This latest attack resulted in the martyrdom of two individuals and left 26 others injured, including serious injuries.

The statement continued, “As part of the ongoing genocide committed by the Israeli occupation forces against hospitals, civilians, and displaced persons, Israeli aircraft targeted tents within the walls of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital for the ninth time since the war began. This attack led to the death of two martyrs and left 26 wounded, including two journalists with moderate injuries, while several others among the displaced suffered serious injuries.”

Pallywood, Gaza Wood” – Hashtags for an Campaign Undermining the Palestinian Narrative

Since the events of October 7, 2023, social media platforms have witnessed disinformation campaigns questioning the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza amid the ongoing war. These campaigns are primarily promoted under the hashtags “Pallywood” and “GazaWood” and focus on casting doubt on the authenticity of Palestinian deaths, falsely claiming that Palestinians are fabricating injuries to gain sympathy and international support.

Continued Israeli War in Gaza

The spread of these claims comes amid the ongoing Israeli assault, which has resulted in massacres against civilians on the 402nd day of the unrelenting war. According to the latest report by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, issued on Sunday, November 10, the Israeli aggression has claimed the lives of over 43,000 martyrs and left more than 102,929 injured since the October 7, 2023 events.