Video falsely claims to show Hamas celebrating 2025 ceasefire
Video was filmed 17 years ago
CLAIM
A video circulating on Facebook claims to show Hamas militants firing guns into the air in celebration following the announcement of a ceasefire in January 2025.
BACKGROUND
The video was shared by blogger Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib on Facebook with the caption, “Hamas fighters miraculously found their missing uniforms, helmets, body armor & balaclavas. These items disappeared for 15 months while they deliberately hid among civilians & caused unimaginable casualties, but every time other Gazans & I said that, we were called ‘Zionists'”.
In the footage, Hamas militants can be seen firing off gunshots while shouting “Allahu Akbar” and then kissing the ground in what appears to be part of a prayer.
The caption in the Facebook video refers to the recent Israel and Hamas ceasefire agreement in January 2025 which was reached after weeks of escalating violence, with the deal brokered by international mediators to halt hostilities and reduce civilian casualties. The agreement included a hostage exchange, with Hamas releasing dozens of Israeli civilians and soldiers in return for hundreds of Palestinian detainees held in Israeli prisons.
The post implies that Hamas fighters had been hiding among civilians and suddenly reappeared in military gear to celebrate the ceasefire.
METHOD
Using a Google reverse image search, the video was traced back to its original source: an archival YouTube video uploaded on July 21, 2015, showing Hamas training on December 15, 2007 during a previous escalation with Israel. The original video, released in an Associated Press package in 2008, can be viewed on YouTube here and on the AP website here.
The AP reported in 2007 that the video showed Hamas fighters as they held exercises near the Gaza border, firing on empty buildings to simulate actual combat, following a Palestinian rocket attack that injured more than 60 Israeli soldiers at a base near the border. In the footage, a Hamas leader issued a warning that Israeli soldiers would face capture and death if Israel launched incursions into Palestinian territory.
Furthermore, metadata from the original YouTube video, titled “Hamas fighters train for possible Israel attack” confirmed it was uploaded on July 21, 2015, showing scenes of Hamas members in military-style gear from a prior escalation in Gaza in 2007, ruling out any connection to the January 2025 ceasefire.
Finally, the reverse image search also revealed that the 2007 video has been shared over the years and misused in various viral social media posts referencing the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The same video was shared as recently as January 15, 2025 in a post on X by freelance journalist Eitan Fischberger, that was viewed over 11,000 times, again falsely claiming that this is recent footage.
Similar to the caption on Facebook, the caption on X accompanying the video uses comparable inflammatory language and makes unverifiable claims about Hamas and civilian activities, further highlighting its misleading nature.
RATING
The video has been widely circulated since it was filmed and released around 17 years ago and is not related to the recent January, 2025 ceasefire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas.
SOURCES
Facebook. (2025) Hamas celebrates ceasefire agreement by firing guns in the air. (Accessed: 27 January 2025)
YouTube Hamas fighters train for possible Israel attack (Accessed: 27 January 2025)
Associated Press. (n.d.) Hamas fighters simulate combat during military exercises near Gaza border. (Accessed: 27 January 2025)
Associated Press. (2025) Israel, Hamas agree to ceasefire following hostage exchange and escalating violence. (Accessed: 27 January 2025).
Google. (n.d.) Reverse Image Search. Available at:
https://images.google.com
(Accessed: 27 January 2025)
Twitter Fischberger, E. (2025) I haven’t seen a single video of a Hamas terrorist in Gaza wearing a military uniform. (Accessed: 27 January 2025).