The Viral Video of the Temple Mount on Fire is Misleading

In the age of social media, misinformation can spread rapidly and widely. A recent example of this involves a video that has been circulating on various platforms. This video purportedly shows Israelis cheering as the Temple Mount was set on fire.

Social Media Posts

On June 2nd, a Facebook user shared a video with the message saying "Zionists sing and dance while the Temple Mount BURNS DOWN!"

Source | Archive

We found that the mentioned video has been widely distributed on the X platform (Twitter) as well.

Source | Archive

However, we discovered that the mentioned video does not depict a recent event.

Fact Check

We conducted a fact-check by deploying the Reverse Image Search feature, using key frames from the video in question in order to trace the video's origin. We found that the footage is from an event in 2021, where Jews in Israel congregated at Temple Mount and sang anti-Palestine songs.

Contrary to the claim, Temple Mount was not set on fire. The fire was near a tree behind the temple, reportedly ignited by Palestinian protesters throwing flares into the area. However, the temple itself sustained no damage from this event (Sources: BBC, Reuters).

Correction: Additional footage of the incident appears to show that the fireworks were fired from the Temple Mount toward the Western Wall below (where thousands of Jews were gathered for Jerusalem Day celebrations).

The trees were just in the way. pic.twitter.com/NOw9Y1sdda

— Judah Ari Gross (@JudahAriGross) May 10, 2021

Recent Updates on Israel-Hamas Conflict

According to Al Jazeera, at least 15 individuals, including children, women, and policemen aiding in aid deliveries, have tragically lost their lives due to Israeli air and artillery attacks in central and southern Gaza. The situation has worsened as Israeli ground forces have infiltrated the Bureij refugee camp in Deir el-Balah, central Gaza, with fighter jets and artillery targeting the area.

Hamas has made it clear that they won't agree to a ceasefire unless Israel commits to a permanent truce and withdraws completely from Gaza. This stance is met with resistance from Prime Minister Netanyahu, who insists on the continuation of the war until Hamas is "eliminated."

The humanitarian crisis extends to widespread hunger across Gaza, leading to fatalities, including children. This dire situation could persist until at least July unless there are significant changes in food distribution. The ongoing conflict since October 7 has resulted in the death of approximately 36,550 Palestinians and left 82,959 injured. On the Israeli side, attacks by Hamas have led to a death toll of over 1,139, with several people still being held captive in Gaza.

Summary

The claim that Zionists joyfully observed the Temple Mount burning is inaccurate. The video was recorded in 2021 and does not represent recent events. Furthermore, the fire was limited to a single tree and did not cause extensive damage to the Temple Mount.

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