A video uploaded on Facebook (FB) and TikTok claims to show Saudi Arabia’s armed forces getting ready to support Israel amid its ongoing conflict with Hamas. This is false. The video used clips from a military parade and stock footage of anti-aircraft vehicles.
On Nov. 2, a Filipino FB user posted a one-minute and three-second Reel consisting of two clips supposedly showing Saudi Arabia’s military vehicles and officials parading on the streets.
People’s screams can also be heard throughout the video, which bore this text: “Saudi Arabia is preparing to help Israel. Oh my god.”
The clips of the parade were actually taken during Saudi Arabia’s 93rd National Day on Sept. 23. Instagram user and journalist m.almawasi uploaded the original clip on Sept. 24 with a caption that translates to: “National Day celebrations at #Jazan.” Jazan is a city in Saudi Arabia.
The false video mirrored the clips and replaced the original post’s festive music with the sounds of people screaming.
The second clip is a file footage of anti-aircraft vehicles on a dirt road that was uploaded on iStock by user o_ned on Oct. 18, 2016.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry has called for an immediate de-escalation of the conflict between Palestinians and Israel after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. The government led by King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also launched a fundraising campaign to support Palestinians in Gaza.
Saudi Arabia was among the Arab nations that condemned an Israeli official’s remark on dropping a nuclear weapon on the strip.
AFP has reported that Saudi Arabia paused discussions on the possible normalisation of its ties with Israel amid the conflict.
VERA Files Fact Check has been debunking mis- and disinformation around the Israel-Hamas conflict.
(Read Compilation video shows wildfires in Argentina, NOT Israel-Hamas conflict)
The FB reel currently has 1,100 reactions, 603 comments, 160 shares and 34,000 views. The false video was first uploaded on TikTok, garnering 600,000 views.
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(Editor’s Note: VERA Files has partnered with Facebook to fight the spread of disinformation. Find out more about this partnership and our methodology.)
