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What is happening in Israel-Gaza?

On 7 October 2023, fighters from a Palestinian group called Hamas crossed into Israel from Gaza in a surprise attack.

Since then, as well as violence unfolding on the ground, there have been thousands of pictures and videos posted on social media relating to the conflict.

But not all of it is true.

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3 ways to spot misinformation on the Israel-Gaza conflict

Working out what’s true, when there’s so much content out there, can be difficult.

It can take experts hours and even days to verify pictures and videos with certainty.

It’s important to be aware of the different ways misinformation is spread. Here are a few things to look out for.

1. False Content

Some of the content is false. This could mean it contains incorrect information or that pictures and videos have been artificially altered.

Click through the slideshow to see an example of false content.

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2. Misleading Content

A lot of content isn’t completely false, but misleading. This means it may not be ‘altered’ or incorrect.

It could be a photo or video taken at a different time and presented out of context, or be miscaptioned.

It is still a type of misinformation and can mislead people.

Click through the slideshow to see an example of misleading content.

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3. The Sources of the Content

Checking the source of a piece of content on social media will often help you work out whether something contains misinformation.

Is the source reliable? Are they biased? And are they really who they say they are?

Click through the slideshow to see an example of how checking the source on content is important.

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Not sure if the news you’re seeing on social media is true or false? Can you always tell if the things you see online are real or fake? Learn how to get the other side of the story with our quizzes, videos and explainers.

Think like a journalist: How to check a story

±«Óătv journalist Tina Daheley explains how she checks the facts when reporting on the latest news.

Think like a journalist: How to check a story