The Israeli military (IDF) continues its attacks and alleged acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip of Palestine. On Sunday alone, nearly 50 people were reported killed. In protest against Israel’s ongoing devastation in Gaza and in solidarity with the Palestinian people, educational institutions across the country observed a class and examination boycott on Monday.

Amid this, a photo allegedly showing Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor to the interim government, shaking hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has gone viral on social media. Some posts accompanying the image also claim that Nobel Laureate Dr. Yunus donated one billion taka to Israel.

The image shows Dr. Muhammad Yunus on the left and Benjamin Netanyahu on the right shaking hands. Another individual is seen in the background, engaged in conversation. This photo has been circulated widely across Facebook accounts, pages, and groups with nearly identical captions.

The photo was posted at 9:46 AM on Sunday by a Facebook account named Sheikh Parves Noyon. The caption states, “During Joe Biden's presidency, Sheikh Hasina stood for Palestine and opposed Israel, issuing a strongly worded statement against them. In contrast, Dr. Yunus donated one billion taka to Israel for the killing of Palestinian children, women, and men. Yet, the country’s religious and Islamist political groups like Jamaat-Shibir, NCP, Hefazat-e-Islam, and Islami Shashontantra Andolon of Char Monai are celebrating that Muslim-opposing Yunus. These groups have glorified him as a saint and are metaphorically kissing his feet. We condemn the leaders and activists of these fundamentalist political parties and their hypocritical clerics.” The same image, with similar captions, was posted from other Facebook accounts named Hasan Talukdar and Md Jilani.

A reverse image search reveals that the original photo was published in a report by The Daily Star on May 18, 2023. In that image, Dr. Muhammad Yunus’s pose, the background individual’s position, the wall color, and the gestures of the person standing to Dr. Yunus’s right match those in the viral photo. However, in the original image, Benjamin Netanyahu does not appear on the right side.

According to the report, on May 12, 2023, Dr. Muhammad Yunus had a private meeting with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in Porto, Portugal, during the ‘Sustainability and Society Forum’. They discussed economic systems and poverty alleviation. The viral photo was taken during that meeting. The same photograph also appears in a press release published on the Yunus Centre website on May 18, 2023.
There are also inconsistencies in the image circulating on social media. For instance, in the viral photo, Dr. Yunus and Benjamin Netanyahu do not appear to be making eye contact during what is supposedly a conversation, which is uncommon in such interpersonal exchanges.

Therefore, the photo shared on social media is edited. In reality, the image of Dr. Yunus shaking hands with the Portuguese President during their meeting on May 12, 2023, in Portugal has been altered. Netanyahu’s face has been superimposed over that of the Portuguese President.

Earlier this January, similar claims had spread on social media alleging that Dr. Yunus had donated one billion taka to Israel. However, fact-checking organization Rumor Scanner contacted Lior Haiat, spokesperson for Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and confirmed that the claim was false. The Yunus Centre also denied the allegation.

Original News Source: https://www.ajkerpatrika.com/fact-check/fact-check-national/ajpg85dxl0e52