Fact-Checking | The 'Gaza Beach' Video is Another Example of Misinformation

The war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has been heavily influenced by misinformation on social media from the very first days. Poligraf, the fact-checking website of Voice of America, has examined an example of this misinformation. Following Israel's attack on the Islamic Republic's consulate building in Damascus on April 1, missile attacks by the Islamic Republic on Israeli territory on April 15, and Israel's retaliatory strike inside Iran on April 19, tensions between the two countries escalated to unprecedented levels. Although both sides downplayed the scope and impact of each other's attacks: Israel claimed to have intercepted almost all of the Islamic Republic's missiles and drones. The Islamic Republic also stated that the attack on Isfahan was very minor. Over decades of its proxy war with Israel, the Islamic Republic has provided financial and military assistance to organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah. After Hamas's terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of over 250, Israel launched an invasion of Gaza aimed at destroying this Islamist group supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran and retrieving the hostages. During negotiations mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt last autumn, over 100 kidnapped hostages were released. There are still 133 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, and Israel believes that at least 20 of them have died. Hamas officials have repeatedly emphasized since the October 7 terrorist attack that they will carry out such attacks again if possible. The United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, Israel, and several other countries have listed Hamas as a terrorist organization. From the very first days, this war has been heavily influenced by misinformation on social media, and Poligraf, the fact-checking website of Voice of America, addressed an example of it in an article on April 19. On April 19, a video of a gathering of people on a beach in central Gaza was shared on the social media platform 'X' with misleading explanations from supporters of Israel, Hamas, and the Islamic Republic, distorting perceptions about this conflict. A user named 'Sprinter Factory' on 'X' with over half a million followers used this to validate the Islamic Republic's claim about the success of its attack on Israel. 'After the [Islamic Republic of] Iran's attack on Israel, the focus shifted away from Gaza, and the children of Gaza were able to play on the beach.' This post received over half a million reactions, and more than ten users have reposted it either unchanged or with modifications. However, this claim is false. It has no connection to the Islamic Republic's attack on Israel. Last February, France and Jordan dropped food aid along the beach visible in the footage from an airplane. This beach is located near Deir al-Balah in central Gaza and is close to an east-west corridor controlled by the Israeli army. The reason for the gathering of people on the beach was the effort to receive this aid. According to the Israeli news website 'Ynet', Israeli forces have conducted airstrikes throughout the Deir al-Balah province but have not yet entered the city of Deir al-Balah. The Israeli news agency 'Walla' also reported a few days before the Islamic Republic's attack on Israel, citing Israeli army sources, that due to a shortage of manpower and legal obstacles, Israel's efforts to secure this corridor have faced difficulties. 'The Times of Israel' also noted that no Israeli soldiers are seen in this footage, interpreting it as a sign of troop withdrawal. However, this withdrawal has no connection to the sudden attack from Iranian territory against Israel. Currently, about 70% of Gaza's population is displaced, with many fleeing to the southern city of Rafah and some to the city of Deir al-Balah. The French news agency reported that many of the people present on the beach are residing in temporary shelters nearby. In a contrary action, pro-Israel users on 'X' used the same footage to cast doubt on the suffering of Palestinian civilians and what they call 'artificial famine.' These users compared the beach scene to the southern beach of Miami in Florida, claiming there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza and that people are enjoying a 'vacation.' Meanwhile, UN observers and credible news media continuously report on the devastating effects of the war on civilians. The Gaza Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas and remains the only source for war casualty statistics, has reported the death toll, including military and civilian casualties, at 34,000 and the number of injured at 77,000. The Persian section of Voice of America cannot independently verify or confirm the statistics provided. The New York Times reported that Israel's initial plan was a 'major attack on military targets,' including near Tehran. Israel called for Europe to 'wake up' against the Islamic Republic's 'evil empire.' Israeli media say that the country used air-to-surface missiles in the attack on an area in Isfahan. The reactions of regional countries to the tensions between the Islamic Republic and Israel continue; Egypt called for restraint from both sides. The Islamic Republic denied the targeting of the 'air defense system at the Natanz facilities.' The Islamic Republic is attempting to downplay the Israeli attack; Amir-Abdollahian stated: 'It was not a drone; it was a toy.' The Israeli attack on the Islamic Republic has affected oil prices and cryptocurrencies.