A photo of kneeling soldiers dating to at least 2017 has been falsely claimed online to depict American troops praying ahead of deployment to defend Israel in its war against Hamas.
The image shows men in military uniform gathered in a hall, kneeling in front of their chairs while some raise their right hands.
A Facebook user sharing the picture on Nov. 4 wrote: “American soldiers praying for their country, for Israel before being deployed to defend Israel.
S. Soldiers praying together after a Chapel service in Fort Benning, Georgia’."
Photo of kneeling soldiers predates the Israel-Hamas war by at least six years.
Persons:
Antony Blinken, Read
Organizations:
Israel, Hamas, Facebook, U.S, West Bank, UN, Reuters, Thomson
Locations:
Israel, Fort Benning , Georgia, Iraq, Gaza, Iran