Cropped Image Shared to Falsely Claim That Hamas Killed IDF’s 'Deadliest Sniper'

The original image shows IDF soldiers resting at Kibbutz Beeri in October 2023.

Fact-Check: This image is cropped. The original image shows Israeli soldiers resting.

(Source: Altered by The Quint) 

An image of a man in a military uniform lying on the ground with eyes closed is being shared on social media platforms.

What are the users saying?: Those sharing have claimed that it shows Israel Defense Forces' "deadliest sniper Shafas Lavier", who was killed by Hamas forces.

An archive of the post can be found here. 

(X/Screenshot) 

(Archives of similar claims can be found here, here and here.)

Is this true?: The claim is false.

• The image is cropped. The original photo shows IDF soldiers resting on the ground at Kibbutz Beeri following a mass infiltration by Hamas from the Gaza Strip in October 2023.

How did we find out?: First, we ran a Google reverse image search on the viral image and came across a photo story by The Washington Post from 17 October 2023, which included an image similar to the viral photo.

• The picture showed other people and elements as well, proving that the viral image was cropped.

Here is the original image. 

(Source: The Washington Post/Screenshot) 

• The Washington Post had credited the image to Reuters. We ran a relevant keyword search on Reuters photos and came across the original image taken on 13 October 2023 by photographer Amir Cohen.

• Below are the similarities between the Reuters photo and the viral image.

Here are the similarities between the two images. 

(Source: Altered by The Quint) 

• Reuters noted that the image showed "Tired Israeli soldiers resting on a patch of grass at Kibbutz Beeri, following a mass infiltration by Hamas gunmen from the Gaza Strip, in southern Israel".

• Additionally, we looked for commander Shafas Lavier of the IDF who was allegedly killed by Hamas forces, but found no records of such a name in the IDF's list of deceased soldiers.

• We also checked a detailed list provided by The Times of Israel from 7 October 2023 of soldiers who died in combat against Hamas. This also has no mention of a Shafas Lavier.

Conclusion: The viral claim is false. A cropped image of IDF soldiers resting is being shared to falsely claim that Hamas forces killed a deadly sniper.

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