Amidst the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, a disturbing video from 2016 depicting the burning of two Turkish soldiers by the terrorist group Islamic State (IS) is circulating on social media. However, it is being falsely shared with the claim that it shows the torture of Israeli soldiers by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. On October 7, Hamas, the militant Islamist group that governs the Gaza Strip, initiated a surprise attack on border towns and villages in Israel, resulting in the reported deaths of over 1,400 Israelis and the capture of nearly 200 as hostages. In response, Israel has launched a series of relentless airstrikes on Gaza. Reports indicate that more than 4,137 Palestinians, including children, have tragically lost their lives since the conflict's onset.
Information war unleashed on social media
The conflict has triggered an overwhelming surge of misinformation and disinformation on social media platforms, particularly on X (formerly Twitter). Several Indian verified accounts have been sharing misleading content that is both anti-Palestine and pro-Israel. The India TV Fact Check team has been actively debunking numerous fake and false posts that have emerged since the start of the conflict.
The disturbing video: A gruesome depiction
The disturbing video in question showcases two soldiers who are tied to the two ends of a metal chain. The chain is then set ablaze, eventually leading to the tragic deaths of the soldiers. This video is overlaid with music and boasts a slick production quality that is characteristic of Islamic State's propaganda videos, which often depict horrific violence and human rights violations.
False narratives in different languages
The video is being shared widely on social media with various captions. In Hindi, the text roughly translates to, "See the cruel face of Hamas terrorists. This video shows an inhuman and diabolical act committed by Hamas terrorists, where two Israeli soldiers were tied with chains, wrapped in gunpowder, set on fire, and left to die in agony. Despite this, some individuals are supporting Hamas. It is crucial to eliminate Hamas terrorists, and we should all support @Israel."
Additionally, the video is also being circulated on WhatsApp with an English text that reads, "Hamas barbarians burning chained Israeli soldiers alive."
Authenticity confirmed: Video of Turkish soldiers
Due to the disturbing nature of the video, India TV's Fact Check team has chosen not to include the video in their story. However, it has been discovered that this footage is not related to the conflict in the Middle East. A closer examination reveals the presence of an ISIS flag and Arabic text in the left corner of the video. A reverse image search using the keywords "IS burns soldier" led to news reports from 2016, confirming that the video depicts the burning of two Turkish soldiers by the terrorist organisation in Syria.
Historical context: 2016 ISIS video
In a BBC report from December 23, 2016, it was noted that "Islamic State (IS) released a video online claiming to show two captured Turkish soldiers being burned alive. IS stated that they were killed in revenge for Turkish actions against Muslims. Turkey had launched a campaign against IS in northern Syria, and at that time, it was engaged in a battle against IS in the stronghold of al-Bab."
Screengrab of BBC report from December 23, 2016.
A Reuters report from the same day quoted the US-based SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors online militant activities, confirming the authenticity of the video. Furthermore, Turkish military officials had reported losing contact with two soldiers in northern Syria while conducting operations against Islamic State.
Linguistic and political context in the video
According to Al Jazeera, the men seen in the video, who are carrying weapons and executing the soldiers, can be heard speaking in Turkish. They express criticism toward Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and call for destructive actions to be carried out within Turkey.
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