Certain social media users are claiming that neighboring countries like Turkey and Iran have declared war on Israel, as the conflict between Israel and Hamas is getting closer to spreading throughout the region.
Over the past few days, a video purportedly depicting Turkey advancing a warship toward Gaza to protect Palestinians from Israeli strikes has received a lot of shares on the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.
“As Middle East tensions rise, Turkey moved a warship towards Gaza, declaring that it would defend Gaza against Israel.” This is getting interesting,” tweeted one account.
The allegation coincides with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s declaration on October 25 that Hamas was not a terrorist organization and his cancellation of a scheduled trip to Israel, which heightened tensions between Jerusalem and Ankara.
By doing a reverse search, we found the video is miscaptioned. The original video was posted on YouTube about ten years ago.
It shows an unmanned US combat aerial vehicle conducting a flight and landing test on a warship.
A CNN logo was added to the false video to trick social media users into thinking it was a real news report.
We discovered that the audio was also taken from an actual news report by the Indian-English news channel WION, with some important details changed.
The Turkish Presidency’s Directorate of Communications refuted the accusations in the bogus news report in a statement as well.
A government spokesperson stated, “The allegation made by various social media posts through footage showing a ‘Turkish warship en route to Palestine’ is untrue.”
Amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, social media has been abuzz with claims that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to intervene in the war. However, a closer examination of his statements reveals that this is a misinterpretation.
The Misinterpreted Statement:
The claim stems from a social media post attributed to Erdogan, stating, “I call on all humanity to take action to stop this unprecedented brutality in the Gaza Strip. If not, we will do it.” This post has been widely shared, leading many to believe that Turkey is preparing for military action.
The Reality:
Upon closer examination, it becomes clear that the post misrepresents Erdogan’s actual statement. The original message, written in Turkish, does not contain the phrase “If not, we will do it.” Instead, it urges the international community to take action to end the violence in Gaza.
Experts in the Turkish language and Middle Eastern politics have confirmed that the social media post is a misinterpretation of Erdogan’s words. They emphasize that there is no indication of a direct military intervention by Turkey in the conflict.
Erdogan’s Actual Stance:
While Erdogan has strongly condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, calling them “unprecedented brutality,” he has not threatened military intervention. Instead, he has called for international pressure on Israel to stop its offensive and for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The Importance of Fact-Checking:
This incident highlights the importance of fact-checking information, especially during times of conflict when misinformation can spread rapidly. It is crucial to rely on credible sources and to carefully analyze information before sharing it further.
The claim that Turkish President Erdogan has threatened to intervene in the Israel-Hamas war is false. While he has strongly condemned Israel’s actions, he has not made any statements suggesting a direct military intervention. It is essential to be cautious of misinformation and to rely on trustworthy sources for accurate information.
No, Iran has not raised a black flag as a ‘call for war’
Iran has reportedly declared war on Israel, which is the second widely circulated viral claim we’ve seen on X.
Many posted images of a black flag above the gold dome of Iran’s Imam Reza shrine, which is situated in the northeast of the nation and is revered by Shiite Muslims.
“This is a call for war or vengeance,” said one blue-tick X user, known for spreading conspiracy theories.
“A black flag is raised over Imam Reza shrine in Iran for the first time in history… This has all the makings of World War 3,” wrote another account.
But after some digging, it turns out this black flag isn’t a call for vengeance or war. Indeed, it is stated as a “mourning flag” on the shrine’s Facebook page, which was raised in response to the fatal explosion that shook a Gaza hospital on October 17.
Additionally, the Imam Reza shrine has raised the red flag before, despite what these social media users claim.
The black flag is raised annually to mark a mourning period for Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, according to Iranian state media.
In April 2023, the shrine raised the same black flag in order to commemorate Imam Ali, also seen as a martyr in Shia Islam.
Turkey Declares WAR on Israel? | Day 23
FAQ
What did Turkey say about Israel?
What was Turkey’s role in the Israel war?
Did Turkey declare war?
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