Title: Video Exposing Fake Actor Claims in Gaza War Refutes Allegations, Identifies True Victim’s Identity
In the midst of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, a video depicting a man on a hospital bed has gone viral on social media. However, claims have circulated that this individual is an actor posing as a Palestinian victim. These allegations were shared by Israel’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle, sparking further scrutiny.
The original tweet thread from X included a video of a man named Saleh, seen walking through the streets of Gaza, celebrating Hamas’ strikes on Israel. The tweet accused Saleh of being a terrorism supporter, singer, and actor who has supposedly been seen all over the media. Another tweet in the thread featured the viral video of the man on the hospital bed, suggesting inconsistencies with the medical equipment and casting doubt on his authenticity as a victim.
The video gained significant attention on social media, with users like Oli London and @EndWokeness echoing the claim that the man on the hospital bed was an actor pretending to be a victim of an Israeli airstrike. However, upon investigating further, it was discovered that the man in question is not Saleh but a different individual named Saeed Zandek.
The search for answers led to an Instagram account under the name Saleh Aljafarawi, which aligns with the text seen in the viral videos. Saleh, a 25-year-old Palestinian living in Gaza, has been actively sharing visuals from the region on Instagram and his YouTube channel, where he publishes his music videos. This connection confirms that Saleh is not the same person as the man portrayed in the hospital bed video.
Moreover, a reverse image search of keyframes from the viral video led to a TikTok user, @hamodahmdan1, who had shared the video on August 19, 2023. This clearly indicates that the video is not recent but rather several months old. Further investigation revealed that the video is linked to an incident in the Nur Shams refugee camp in the West Bank. A news report by the International Solidarity Movement from August 25, 2023, featured an image of the same man, identified as Mohammed Zendiq, who lost his leg during an Israeli invasion.
To verify these findings, journalist Younis Tirawi, reporting on the Israel-Hamas war from the ground, confirmed that the survivor’s actual name is Saeed Zandek. He suffered injuries during the mentioned incident in the West Bank in August. This information was backed by Saeed’s brother’s TikTok profile, which contained several videos of him in the hospital from that period, including one where he can be seen using a wheelchair due to his amputated leg.
In conclusion, the claim that Saleh is the actor impersonating a victim in the viral video is false. The footage dates back to July-August 2023 and features Saeed Zandek, who was injured during an Israeli raid on the Nur Shams refugee camp. It is crucial to ensure accurate reporting amidst the conflict and verify information before making such claims that can potentially mislead and distort the reality on the ground.
