Israel Defense Forces’ “discovery” of Hamas name list unravels as days of the week in Arabic

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed to have discovered what they initially believed to be a list of Hamas names in charge of guarding Israeli hostages at Al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital in Gaza.

However, it was later revealed to be a calendar detailing the days of the week in Arabic.

On 14 November, IDF shared their finding through a 6-minute and 1-second video on their official X (formerly Twitter) account, gaining 7.8 million views as of the current writing.

The video was posted with caption, “Watch IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari walk through one of Hamas’ subterranean terrorist tunnels—only to exit in Gaza’s Rantisi hospital on the other side.”

IDF also claimed in the caption to have found tunnels where Hamas hide, operate, and hold Israeli hostages.

The video, featuring IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari, showcased a sheet on the hospital wall.

Hagari, pointing to the Arabic text, initially claimed it was a list of Hamas names on shift for guarding hostages.

He states, “This list, in Arabic, this list says, we are in operation.”

“The operation against Israel started on the 7th of October,” he added as he pointed at the text on the top part of the sheet.

He then started explaining that it was a list name of Hamas terrorists who were on shift guarding the hostages.

Former director of speechwriting at the Israeli Mission to the United Nations, Aviva Klompas, also shared the discovery on her official X account, which gained considerable attention.

A screenshot of Aviva’s tweet, which has been reposted by various social media users

However, Arabic speakers quickly debunked the claim, asserting that the “name list” was, in fact, a calendar of the days of the week.

According to FRANCE 24 English, the text at the top of the sheet is translated to “Al-Aqsa flood” with the date of 7 October.

Contrary to the IDF’s initial assertion, there were no names of Hamas members on the sheet, only names of days of the week, starting from Saturday (7 October).

In the video, the IDF spokesperson can be seen reading and pointing at the texts from left to right, despite Arabic being written and read from right to left.

Arabic speakers promptly pointed out that the sheet was indeed a calendar, prompting the IDF to later acknowledge the error on their X account.

They posted another tweet on the same day just a few hours later with caption, “The calendar found in the room marked the days since October 7 Massacre with the title “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood”, Hamas’ name for their horrific attack on Israel.”

Netizens criticised IDF for spreading misinformation

The social media uproar surrounding the IDF’s alleged misinformation has led to widespread criticism from netizens.

Some took the opportunity to mock the IDF sarcastically, suggesting that they mistook names of days of the week for Hamas soldiers’ names.

🇮🇱 Israel's military claimed today that it found in the basement of Al Rantisi Hospital in Gaza evidence that Hamas used the hospital for military purposes, showing this list as part of the evidence material.

They say "every terrorist wrote his name on the list"

The "terrorist"… pic.twitter.com/RziGJcB15v

— {Matt} $XRPatriot (@matttttt187) November 14, 2023

The spokesperson for the #Israeli terrorist army claims to have found a list in a hospital in #Gaza where “each terrorist wrote their name”.
Except what is written are the days of the week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc.#غزة_مقبرة_الدبابات #أبوعبيدة #GazaGenocide #Hamas pic.twitter.com/pBp32XRMWy

— HASHMESH (@HASHMESHE) November 14, 2023

Aviva Klompas, is also facing criticism for spreading misinformation.

A netizen posted a Google Lens image translation of the calendar in response to one of her recent tweets.

OMG! Found in the basement of Rantisi Children's Hospital in Gaza, a schedule showing the names of Hamas terrorist who guarded the hostages.

Every name on this list is a dead man walking. Smh🤦 pic.twitter.com/s801usxXbI

— choco crispy~ (@chococrispyluvv) November 14, 2023

On Reddit, a few Redditors engaged in discussions about the issue, acknowledging that the claim regarding the name list may be false.

However, they emphasize that it shouldn’t overshadow other pieces of evidence suggesting Hamas’ presence found in the hospital.