A viral image shared on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter, purports to show Israeli military casualties sustained as a result of the country’s current conflict with Hamas.
Israeli recognition of huge losses in the ground war.
The Israeli’s Minister of War stated:
In recent days, Israeli forces have suffered heavy losses as a result of the clashes that have occurred, and we have suffered numerous casualties in the clashes that took place in the… pic.twitter.com/TUA34PdJDp— Sprinter (@Sprinter99800) October 31, 2023
Verdict: False
The image, published in an Oct. 9 article from the Sydney Morning Herald, shows the bodies of civilians killed by terrorists.
Fact Check:
Eleven soldiers were killed while fighting battles on the Gaza Strip Tuesday, according to Israeli authorities, the Times of Israel reported. Israeli forces continued their offensive against Hamas from both the ground and air Wednesday in spite of the casualties, according to the outlet.
The X image, viewed over 400,000 times, purports to show Israeli military casualties sustained as a result of the country’s current conflict with Hamas. “In recent days, Israeli forces have suffered heavy losses as a result of the clashes that have occurred, and we have suffered numerous casualties in the clashes that took place in the Gaza Strip,” the image’s caption reads in part.
The image does not show military casualties, however. The image, published in an Oct. 9 article from the Sydney Morning Herald, shows the bodies of civilians killed by terrorists. The bodies were collected at Kibbutz Kfar Aza following the Oct. 7 terrorist attack carried out by Hamas, the image’s caption indicates.
Likewise, the viral X image is neither referenced on the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) website nor its verified social media accounts. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs also has not publicly commented on the image. (RELATED: Does Image Show U.S. Troops On The Ground With The IDF?)
A total of 317 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the Israel-Hamas conflict began on Oct. 7, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Check Your Fact has contacted the IDF for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received. Check Your Fact also contacted the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who declined to comment on record, and deferred to the IDF.