Misleading Image Manipulation Spreads False Claims About Yunus and Netanyahu

Israeli forces continued their airstrikes and atrocities in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, resulting in nearly 50 deaths in a single day. In protest against the ongoing destruction and to show solidarity with the Palestinians, a nationwide boycott of classes and exams is being observed today, Monday, April 7, in various educational institutions across the country.

Meanwhile, an image showing Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of Bangladesh's interim government, shaking hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has gone viral on social media. The image is being shared with claims that Dr. Yunus donated 100 crore Bangladeshi Taka to Israel.

In the photo, Dr. Yunus is seen on the left, with Netanyahu on the right, both shaking hands, while another person is seen talking in the background. The image has been shared across several Facebook accounts, pages, and groups in a similar manner.

However, a reverse image search reveals that the photo actually originates from a report published on May 18, 2023. In the original report, Dr. Yunus is seen meeting with Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa at the "Sustainability and Society Forum" in Porto, Portugal. While the scene and Dr. Yunus’s position in the photo are consistent, Netanyahu is absent.

The image circulating on social media has been edited, replacing the face of the Portuguese president with Netanyahu's. This edited photo follows a previous rumor in January 2023 claiming that Dr. Yunus donated 100 crore Taka to Israel. However, a fact-checking organization, Rumor Scanner, confirmed through communication with Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lior Hayat that the claim was false. Additionally, Yunus Center also confirmed that the claim is untrue.