Clarifying Misinformation Amid Israel-Iran War Tensions

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There is a surge of discussions on social media regarding the current situation in Gaza and the possibility of an impending attack by Iran on Israel. However, many of these discussions seem exaggerated and are fueling fear worldwide. People from various countries, including Asian nations like Sri Lanka and India, are working in Israel in sectors such as agriculture and construction. Concerns have arisen about the safety of both Israelis and migrant workers amidst rumors of a potential large-scale Iranian assault on Israel.

Social Media Posts

As per social media posts, British Foreign Office calls on UK citizens in Israel to leave IMMEDIATELY, Iran attack is inevitable and Israel is about to lose a significant portion of their population as 2/3rds have second passports.

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Explanation

British Foreign Office Advisory: The claim that the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has issued an immediate call for UK citizens in Israel to leave is misleading. While it is true that the FCO regularly updates its travel advisories based on security concerns, there has been no specific call for an immediate evacuation of UK citizens from Israel. As of April 2024, the FCO advises against all travel to Gaza and advises against all but essential travel to areas near the border with Gaza due to the ongoing conflict and security risks. However, the FCO has not issued a blanket call for UK citizens to leave Israel immediately. Updated UK travel advisory can be reached here An Aljazeera report about it can be reached here

Proportion of Dual Citizens: The claim that 2/3rds of Israel's population have second passports, implying that a significant portion of Israelis are dual citizens with another country, is inaccurate. According to reliable sources approximately 10% of Israel's population holds dual citizenship. While this is a notable portion, it is significantly lower than the 2/3rds claimed in the social media post.More details about it can be read here Archived

Iranian Threat and Gaza Operations: The claim that an Iran attack on Israel is inevitable due to recent attack on Iran diplomatic compound in Syria on April 1 by war planes which are suspected as owned by Israel is a simplification of a complex geopolitical situation. While tensions between Israel and Iran have been ongoing for years, including threats from Iranian officials. Additionally, while there have been calls from various Arab nations and international bodies for Israel to cease military operations in Gaza, the situation is multifaceted and involves historical, political, and humanitarian factors. Israel's actions in Gaza are part of a longstanding conflict with Hamas, the governing authority in Gaza, and are influenced by various security and strategic considerations.

Israel remains vigilant, as an increasing number of media reports suggest that the Islamic Republic is gearing up to respond to a recent missile strike(April 1 ) on its diplomatic compound in Syria. While Iran has accused Israel of carrying out the deadly airstrike, Israel has refuted these claims.

Citing a US intelligence report on Friday(April 12 ) , The Wall Street Journal indicated that Iran might retaliate within the next 24 to 48 hours. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian emphasized Tehran's resolve to retaliate during a phone conversation with German counterpart Annalena Baerbock on Thursday(April 11).

A day prior, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei pledged retaliation, likening the attack on its embassy to an assault on Iranian territory. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded, stating on Thursday, "Whoever harms us, we will harm them." He affirmed Israel's readiness to address all security requirements defensively and offensively.More details can be read here Archived

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