Former U.S. ambassador to Israel David Friedman shared a video on social media that he claimed showed Israel’s national gymnastics team performing a routine at the Paris Olympics. However, it was later revealed that the video actually featured a performance from an acrobatics club in Israel, not the national team.
Despite the misinformation, the video went viral on Twitter and Instagram, with many users believing it to be a genuine Olympic performance. This incident is just one example of the spread of misinformation related to Israel during the Gaza war.
Another viral image supposedly depicting Israeli swimmers forming the words “Bring them home now!” with their bodies was also found to be misleading. The image was created by an artist and shared on Instagram, not taken during the Olympics as claimed.
Claims that the Israeli Olympic team was banned from wearing #BringThemHome pins during the 2024 Olympics were also debunked. The International Olympic Committee has rules against political expressions from all athletes, not just the Israeli delegation.
As misinformation continues to spread on social media, some users have called out the proliferation of false information. Rabbi and activist Shais Rishon emphasized the importance of distinguishing between memes and misinformation in online content.
It is crucial to fact-check information before sharing it online to prevent the spread of false narratives and ensure accuracy in reporting.