VERA Files
A YouTube video reposted on Facebook (FB) claims that the United States (U.S.) withdrew its support for Israel after meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Not true. President Joe Biden assured that the U.S. will continue to provide everything Israel needs.
The Nov. 18 YouTube video, which appeared three days after Biden met with the Chinese leader in San Francisco, carried this claim in its headline:
“US Abandons Israel’s Side! Muslim Countries Join Forces in Gaza! Israel is completely blockaded.”
Biden expressed the opposite in a statement published by the White House on Nov. 19:
“We stand firmly with the Israeli people as they defend themselves against the murderous nihilism of Hamas.”
“I also immediately traveled to Israel — the first American president to do so during wartime — to show solidarity with the Israeli people and reaffirm to the world that the United States has Israel’s back.”
The video’s narrator also falsely claimed that the Pentagon withdrew troops it sent to Israel.
“We have no assets or boots on the ground in Gaza,” Sabrina Singh, Pentagon’s deputy press secretary, said on Nov. 14.
When asked in an Oct. 15 interview if he foresees U.S. troops in combat in Israel, Biden said: “I don’t think that’s necessary. Israel has one of the finest fighting forces in the country. I guarantee we’re gonna provide them everything they need.”
The U.S. currently provides equipment to Israel such as 1.5 millimeter rounds, precision-guided munitions and air defense systems through existing stockpiles within the country, Singh disclosed on Nov. 21.
The false video, posted by YouTube channel DCM Global (created on Feb. 14, 2020) and re-uploaded by FB page Etablissement (created on Nov. 24, 2013), got a total of 516,382 interactions.
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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.)
