FACT CHECK

Video of cat with supposedly 'martyred' child predates 2023 Israel-Hamas war | Fact check

Andre Byik
USA TODAY

The claim: Video shows cat resting on Palestinian girl killed in 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict

A Nov. 25 Instagram video (direct link, archive link) shows a cat climbing onto a child who is laying in adult's lap with eyes closed.

"a martyred palestinian girl and her cat," reads text superimposed on the video.

The post was liked more than 900 times in 12 days. Similar versions of the video were widely shared across social media platforms.

More from the USA TODAY Fact-Check Team:

Our rating: False

The video predates the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. While the circumstances of the video are unclear, it has circulated on social media since at least 2021.

Footage shared on social media before October Hamas assault

The video was posted on several social media platforms years before the Oct. 7 Hamas attack against Israel.

While the circumstances of the video are unclear, many interpreted it as simply a sweet moment between a child and an animal.

It was shared Dec. 18, 2021, in an Instagram post with the caption, "This So Cute." The video also appeared April 24, 2021, on the Russian social media site VK with the translated title, "Don't be afraid, I'm with you!" In a June 8, 2021, post on Twitter, now X, the video accompanied the caption, "Who else like cats here. please reply (sic)."

Fact check: Video shows Israeli forces raising flags on roof of school, not Al Shifa Hospital

The Instagram user who posted the video on Nov. 25 did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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