A viral image shared on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter, purports to show an Israeli soldier posing amid rubble in Gaza.

Israeli army soldiers pose for photographs against the backdrop of destroyed Gaza. 🤦 pic.twitter.com/3aXByalbT8

— W i z a r d S X (@WizardSX0) November 12, 2023

Verdict: False

The image is digitally altered. Neither the blue graffiti appearing on a building behind the soldier nor a table situated near the soldier appears in the original image.

Fact Check:

Troops from the Israel Defense Forces’ 7th Armored Brigade and Golani Infantry Brigade reportedly captured several Hamas governmental buildings in Sheikh Ijlin and Rimal Tuesday, according to the Times of Israel. The Hamas parliament is said to be among the buildings that were captured, the outlet reported.

The X image, viewed over 300,000 times, purports to show an Israeli soldier posing amid rubble in Gaza. The soldier can be seen sitting on an armchair with his legs crossed. A small coffee table appears to be situated near the soldier, and blue graffiti appears on a building behind him. “Israeli army soldiers pose for photographs against the backdrop of destroyed Gaza,” the image’s caption reads.

The image is digitally altered. Neither the blue graffiti appearing on the building behind the soldier nor the small coffee table situated near the soldier appears in the original image, which has also been shared on X. In addition, a beam of light just above the soldier is visible in the original image. The shot of the original image is not cropped as closely, either.

IDF Soldier in Gaza. Caption this pic.twitter.com/nOrMuMfAVj

— Times Algebra (@TimesAlgebraIND) November 12, 2023

Likewise, the image has not been featured in any recent credible news reports about the IDF or the current Israel-Hamas conflict. Furthermore, the IDF has not publicly commented on the image via its website or verified social media accounts. (RELATED: Image Purporting To Show Palestinians Eating Amid Rubble Is AI-Generated)

Check Your Fact has contacted the IDF for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received.