Video shows crisis actors in Palestine “working overtime to fool the world” during the current Israel-Hamas war.
Get PolitiFact in your inbox.
Video doesn’t show Palestinian crisis actors. It’s from a 2017 film project
If Your Time is short
-
This footage was originally uploaded to YouTube in 2017 and shows behind-the-scenes moments from a film project.
A video shared on Instagram shows makeup artists creating realistic looking injuries on people, and social media users suggested these were "crisis actors" posing as victims in Palestine amid the war between Israel and Hamas.
"Hollywood? No it’s Pallywood and crisis actors are working overtime to fool the world. Don’t fall for it or fall for it. The choice is yours!" read the caption on the Oct. 23 post.
(Screenshot from Instagram)
This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)
The post misrepresents what is shown in the footage.
Featured Fact-check
The footage is from a video originally uploaded to YouTube in March 2017 by Turkish public broadcaster TRT World. The report featured special effects makeup artist Mariam Salah on a film set in the Gaza Strip.
"There are not many film productions in the Gaza Strip," says a description on the video. "But that didn't stop makeup artist Mariam Salah from following her dream. She taught herself to make fake blood for Palestinian films, breaking into a business traditionally run by men."
The footage shows Salah working on a project by international human rights organization Doctors of the World.
The video does not show Palestinian crisis actors during the current Israel-Hamas war. We rate that claim False.
Our Sources
Instagram post (archived), Oct. 23, 2023
TRT World YouTube video, Palestinian film industry | Cinema | Showcase, March 2, 2017
Doctors of the World, Who We Are, accessed Oct. 24, 2023
Press release issued by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, Oct. 24, 2023
Reuters, Fact Check: Video of actors wearing makeup shows filming of documentary, Oct. 20, 2023
Snopes, Does This Video Show Injuries Created with Makeup to Fool the Public About Atrocities?, July 24, 2018
Browse the Truth-O-Meter
More by Loreben Tuquero
Video doesn’t show Palestinian crisis actors. It’s from a 2017 film project
Support independent fact-checking.
Become a member!
In a world of wild talk and fake news, help us stand up for the facts.