Man behind viral video falsely claiming hostages were rescued from Gaza apologizes for ‘mistake’

A man who circulated a video falsely claiming that 30 families of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza had been called to hospitals has apologized for his “mistake.”

In an interview with Channel 12 news, Adam Salem says he was told the fake news story by a friend with a close relative in the Israeli Air Force, and passed it on without knowing that it was false.

“I understood I made a mistake.. and it was something that shouldn’t have been said,” he says in the interview.

His lawyer insists that Salem did not know he was spreading misinformation.

Nevertheless, Channel 12 reports that police are taking the issue seriously and that the man will be charged in the coming days.

Unsubstantiated rumors spread throughout the country over the weekend claiming the army had rescued some Israeli hostages from Gaza, leading police to apprehend Salem and the military to issue three separate statements denying that any captives had been extracted and pleading with the public to stop sharing fake news that was torturous for the hostages’ families.

IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said that the rumors “are not true. Listen only to the announcements of the official authorities.”