The claim
Social networks falsely claim that Omar al-Banna and Omer Siman-Tov are not real victims of violent events, but merely fictional characters in a propaganda campaign.
Our conclusion
Independent reviews, testimony and documented evidence from trusted news outlets clearly refute these claims. Photographs and personal accounts from journalists present at the site confirm the tragedies. Misinformation on social networks that sows doubt without evidence is consistently corrected to ensure an accurate portrayal of events and to show respect to the families of the victims.
Content Warning: This article discusses violent events and contains references to the deaths of children that some readers may find disturbing!
A few days ago we reported on a video that showed a dead Palestinian boy. Users condemned Israel's retaliation. Official Israeli accounts claimed it showed a “ doll ” and that Hamas “accidentally” posted it and deleted it. Now, through another fact check, it turns out that Omar Bilal al-Banna was in the video!
The circumstances of Omar's death
Omar Bilal al-Banna was killed on October 11, 2023, when an Israeli airstrike hit his home in Zeitoun, east of Gaza City. There is evidence that he was hit by debris while playing outside. His brother Majd was also injured. This was confirmed by video footage in which Majd confirmed what happened and is visibly wounded. These images were taken by Moamen El Halabi, a Palestinian photographer, and Mohammed Abed, an AFP photojournalist, who were both on site and documenting the scenes.
The denial of Omar's death on social media
Misinformation claiming that Omar was merely a doll spread quickly on the social media platform X. A video showing Omar wrapped in a white cloth was viewed 3.8 million times and shared by official Israeli accounts that claimed it was Hamas propaganda. These allegations were refuted after photographers who were at the scene confirmed that it was a real child. Omar Bilal al-Banna's mother Yasmeen confirmed her son's death and described the spread of lies as injustice and fraud.
The circumstances of Omer's death
Omer Siman-Tov died during a Hamas attack on his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7. His parents and siblings also died when their house was set on fire. The tragedy was documented by several major news outlets, but again, claims emerged on social media that Omer and his family were actors and that the attack never happened.
The denial of Omer's death on social media
Various social media accounts spread the false claim that Omer was a “paid actor.” Some insinuated that it was Jewish propaganda and demanded proof of the children's deaths. This misinformation added to the burden on those grieving and was spread by individuals, some based around the world and others supporting Hamas.
Effects of disinformation and how to combat it
Disinformation, if left unchecked, can distort human suffering and dangerously influence perceptions of conflict. In the case of the tragic deaths of Omar al-Banna and Omer Siman-Tov, the efforts of some actors on social networks to distort their stories are not only irresponsible but also morally reprehensible. Such deliberately misleading representations, which aim to influence political views or distract from the true causes and consequences of violence, damage trust in media and information sources.
The phenomenon of misinformation in conflict regions such as Israel and Gaza is particularly worrying as it has the potential to increase the risk of violence. Spreading falsehoods can exacerbate existing tensions, lead to distrust and ultimately undermine efforts to achieve peace and understanding.
In order to counteract the risk of misinformation, effective information verification and fact-checking strategies must be consistently applied. It is the duty of journalists, fact-checkers and media organizations to check information thoroughly and only disseminate verified facts. The critical discourse must not be diluted by false equivalences; Untrue claims must not be given the same platform as demonstrably true information. In this sense, it is essential that reporting clearly distinguishes between proven facts and refuted false reports in order to ensure a solid and truthful information base for the public.
Conclusion: The documented facts confirm the tragedies of the Siman-Tov and al-Banna families. The spread of disinformation on social media platforms that denies these deaths poses a challenge to information integrity and the collective grieving process. The evidence highlights the need for critical assessment of news spread on social media in order to protect the truth and the To bring justice to those affected.
Source: BBC
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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )