Viral Video Alleges Hamas Fighters Shooting at Humanitarian Airdrops
A video circulating on social media claims to show Hamas fighters shooting at humanitarian airdrops, hindering aid efforts by Israel. The video, shared widely with over a million views, depicts men in a barbershop rushing outside to gunfire sounds as aid packages are dropped from planes.
Debunked Claim: The video was fact-checked and found to be digitally manipulated, consisting of unrelated clips spliced together. It has been shared in various languages with false captions and circulated on multiple platforms.
Collage of Edited Footage
A reverse search identified the barbershop scene clip from an older video dating back to 2022. The edited video was embellished with added effects like gunfire and angels, further distorting the original footage’s context.
Dangerous but Necessary Airdrops
Israeli data highlighted over 120 humanitarian airdrop missions to Gaza in 2024. However, incidents of malfunctioning parachutes causing fatalities have occurred. Amid the worsening crisis, access to aid remains restricted, sparking condemnation of Israel’s blockade by international organizations.
Despite calls to ease aid deliveries, officials blame each other for the obstacles. The US has urged Israel to facilitate aid, while Israeli authorities accuse Hamas of intercepting aid. The situation remains contentious, threatening the well-being of civilians in Gaza.