FACT CHECK: Did Israeli Newspaper Claim Israelis Made Millions From Shares Ahead Of Oct. 7 Hamas Attack?

Anna Mock | Fact Check Reporter

A photo shared on Facebook allegedly shows a screenshot of an article from Israeli outlet Haaretz that says “Israelis Made Millions Betting Against Israeli Shares Before October 7 Massacre!” 

Verdict: False

The screenshot is fake, a spokesperson for Haaretz told Check Your Fact in an email.

Fact Check:

A report suggests investors with possible ties to Hamas made tens of millions of pounds short-selling Israeli stocks in the days leading up to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, according to Telegraph. The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange denied this claim, saying it was “inaccurate and its publication irresponsible,” Reuters reported.

A Facebook photo alleges Haaretz reported that Israelis made millions on stocks just before the Hamas attack that occurred on Oct. 7. The post shared a screenshot of the alleged article with a date of Dec. 4.

The alleged reads, “Israelis Made Millions Betting Against Israeli Shares Before October 7 Massacre!” Underneath this, a sub headline reads, “Giant gambles against Israel on the markets in Tel Aviv and Wall Street days before Hamas’ attack made billions. Somebody seems to have known about the plan in advance.”

The photo has been digitally altered, however. No such article can be found through a search of the Hareetz website. Although it shares the same sub headline, the genuine Hareetz article reads, “Did Hamas Make Millions Betting Against Israeli Shares Before October 7 Massacre?” (RELATED: Video Shows Israeli Hostage’s Sister, Not Mom)

The alleged headline does not appear on any of Haaretz’s social media accounts“It’s fake,” a Haaretz spokesperson told Check Your Fact in an email. 

This is not the first time misinformation involving Israel has spread since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. Check Your Fact previously debunked a photo claiming to show an Israeli soldier standing on a child in Gaza.

Anna Mock

Fact Check Reporter

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