Al Jazeera Arabic recently shared a fake poll claiming that 47% of Israelis support sexual assaults on Palestinian prisoners, sparking outrage among social media users. The poll was promoted by US Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib and later debunked as a doctored image of an N12 poll about government reliance on supporters of terrorism.
Communications expert Eitan Fischberger called out Al Jazeera for spreading false information, while pro-Taiwan activist Drew Pavlau accused the media outlet of “blood libel.” Former Jerusalem Post editor Avi Mayer condemned Al Jazeera for sharing an “absolute lie” with its millions of followers.
Despite some accounts removing the fake poll, anti-Israel groups continued to circulate it on social media. The incident highlighted the dangers of misinformation and the importance of fact-checking before sharing information online.
Rutgers University professor Noura Erakat, who initially shared the fake poll, later admitted her mistake and emphasized the need for verification in light of sensitive issues. The incident serves as a cautionary tale about the impact of spreading fake news in a digitally connected world.