Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) faces backlash after sharing a fake image accusing Israeli soldiers of supporting rape, further fueling tensions in an already volatile situation.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) recently shared a digitally altered image falsely claiming to show a poll indicating that Israelis believe soldiers should be allowed to rape Palestinians, further inflaming an already tense situation. The image was quickly debunked by users on X (formerly Twitter), including journalist Yashar Ali.
Tlaib had originally reposted the image from Noura Erakat, a pro-Palestinian lawyer and academic, who later acknowledged the mistake but explained that the image seemed credible due to existing reports of the rape of a Palestinian detainee.
This story is a source of significant controversy in Israel. A doctor at the Sde Teiman prison initially raised concerns about the potential sodomization of a Palestinian terror detainee. However, a subsequent medical examination suggested that the detainee’s injuries were inconsistent with rape and were likely self-inflicted using an object.
Despite the lack of conclusive evidence, the story has gone viral in the Arab world, fueled in part by a leaked video aired by Israel’s Channel 12, which allegedly shows the detainee being abused. The video, however, is grainy and inconclusive.
Some Israelis fear that the dissemination of this video and the spread of unverified claims could endanger the dozens of Israeli hostages currently held by Hamas, potentially leading to further abuse.
.png)