Our rating: False
The video shows several leaders of an Azerbaijani separatist group after they were arrested, not Israeli generals. The arrests took place four days before the Hamas attack on Israel.
Video shows Azerbaijani separatist leaders, not Israeli generals
The Palestinian militant group Hamas launched one of the most significant surprise attacks on Israel in decades on Oct. 7, infiltrating 22 towns and army bases and killing and wounding hundreds of civilians and Israeli security forces. The attack has prompted Israeli counterstrikes in Gaza.
The war’s death toll rose to about 1,600 as of Oct. 9, including at least 11 Americans, and authorities on both sides say dozens of Israelis and some Americans have been taken hostage by Hamas amidst the fighting.
However, the X video doesn’t show Israeli generals being captured by Hamas militants.
Fact check: Video shows Israeli airstrike in Gaza in May, not current attack
An extended version of the video of the handcuffed men was shared on YouTube on Oct. 5, two days before the Hamas attack, by the Azerbaijan security service, DTX.
The video’s title says it shows the arrest of men who worked with illegal armed groups in the Azerbaijani region of Nagorno-Karabakh, an Armenian-populated breakaway region.
“A criminal case is being continued in the State Security Service regarding the terrorist acts committed by the illegal armed groups operating in the Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan,” says the video’s description in Azerbaijani, according to Google Translate.
The three men shown are Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan and Davit Ishkhanyan, and all three were arrested on Oct. 3, according to the description.
Several other separatist leaders were arrested as well after Nagorno-Karabakh was reclaimed by Azerbaijani forces in a swift military operation in September, according to the Associated Press.
The X user couldn’t be reached for comment.
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