Indonesian protest footage falsely claimed as 2026 Israeli evacuation
Thai PBS Verify found is disinformation on Facebook
A post falsely claiming to show Israelis evacuating.
Thai PBS Verify traced the misleading claim to a Facebook post alleging that people in Israel were fleeing their area after power and internet outages, while linking the footage to the ongoing conflict.
The post stated:
“Israelis are evacuating. The city has lost power and there is no internet.” Along with hashtags related to stockpiling supplies, war, food, fuel, survival and evacuation.
The post was published on Nov 7, 2026, and attracted more than 350,000 views.
Examining the evacuation claim
Thai PBS Verify first analysed the footage using Hive Moderation to determine whether it had been generated by artificial intelligence. The results indicated a relatively low likelihood that the video was AI-generated.
AI-content assessment results from Hive Moderation.
Investigators then extracted still images from the clip and conducted reverse-image searches using Google Lens. The search led to a Threads post published on Aug 27, 2026, identifying the footage as a demonstration in Indonesia calling on the government to take action.
Google Lens results tracing the source of the footage.
A Threads post referencing the incident.
The same user had also shared three additional videos related to the same event in the comments section of the post.
Other videos linked to the same incident.
Information gathered through Google Lens and AI Overview, which compiles information from multiple sources, showed that several social media users identified the event as a protest near Indonesia’s parliament building in Jakarta on the night of Aug 27, 2026.
Further searches led to an Al Jazeera report published on Aug 28, 2026, titled “Indonesians march on parliament to demand crackdown on corruption”, which described demonstrations calling for tougher anti-corruption measures.
Verifying related footage
Investigators examined additional images and videos posted by the Threads account and identified the DIPO Group building. A comparison with Google Maps Street View confirmed the building is located in Jakarta, not far from Indonesia’s parliament complex, matching other clues about the location.
เComparison between footage related to the Indonesia protest shared by the same account (left) and the actual location near the DIPO building in Jakarta shown on Google Maps (right).
Distance between the location shown in the footage and Indonesia’s parliament building according to Google Maps.
Map of the area
Checking the location using Google Maps
Investigators compared the angle of the footage and surrounding buildings with images on Google Maps. They found that the building opposite DIPO Group was GP Plaza, matching the position and perspective seen in the viral clip.
Street View image showing the DIPO building on the left and GP Plaza on the right.
Because the original video was low in resolution, Thai PBS Verify searched for additional versions using Google Lens and found a clearer clip on YouTube uploaded by user “司徒文進 CROSSBONE“, which also identified the event as a protest in Indonesia.
Investigators also noted that footage recorded from the GP Plaza side would show an orange flashing traffic signal, matching what appeared in the video.
An orange flashing traffic signal visible in the footage.
Comparison between the video and Street View imagery showing two traffic-signal poles matching those seen in the clip.
Nearby map
Investigators found several environmental features that matched between the footage and the area around GP Plaza.
Comparison of matching environmental features between the footage and the GP Plaza area.
Additional clues from related footage
Other videos shared in the same Threads post showed scenes near the BNI building. Checks using Google Street View confirmed the BNI building is located close to the DIPO building, consistent with the surroundings shown in the footage and providing further evidence that the event took place in Indonesia.
Footage near the BNI building verified through Google Street View.
A final video was traced through Google Lens to a report by the Indramayu Info page published on Aug 27, 2026, stating that the incident occurred near the entrance gate of Indonesia’s parliament.
Comparison between the footage and Google Street View imagery near the gate of Indonesia’s parliament building.
Thai PBS Verify also found AFP video coverage reporting clashes during demonstrations in Jakarta as protesters demanded tougher penalties for corruption offences.
AFP video
What actually happened
The footage being shared as an evacuation in Israel following electricity and internet outages does not show events in Israel. Evidence from reverse-image searches, geolocation analysis using Google Street View, and reports from AFP and Al Jazeera confirms that the video depicts anti-government protests in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Aug 27, 2026, where demonstrators were calling for stronger anti-corruption measures.
Verification Process
- The video was analysed using Hive Moderation, which found a relatively low likelihood that it was generated by AI.
- Reverse-image searches using Google Lens linked the footage to a Threads post published on Aug 27, 2026, identifying it as an anti-government protest in Indonesia.
- Additional videos shared by the same account were verified through Google Maps Street View and placed in Jakarta near Indonesia’s parliament building.
- Reports by Al Jazeera and AFP confirmed that demonstrations demanding tougher anti-corruption measures took place in Jakarta during the same period.
Impact of the false claim
- It may mislead audiences about events in Israel and create the false impression that residents were carrying out a mass evacuation when the footage actually came from another country.
- Claims about widespread electricity and internet outages may cause unnecessary anxiety about security and safety conditions.
- The footage removes the original context of the Indonesian protests, making it harder for audiences to understand the true causes and circumstances of the event.
- Sharing the video without verifying the location and timing increases the risk of misinformation spreading widely.
- Reframing genuine footage from one event as evidence of another can undermine trust in news and information, especially during periods of international conflict.
What to do with this misinformation?
- Verify the source: Check which account originally posted the video and whether reputable news organizations have reported the same incident.
- Conduct a reverse image search: Use Google Lens to check whether the image or video has appeared on the internet before.
- Verify the location using visual clues: Examine buildings, street signs, utility poles, and the surrounding environment in the image, then compare them with Google Maps or Street View.
- Check the publication date and time: Do not immediately assume the video shows a current event simply because it is being shared while a news event is unfolding.
- Cross-check information from multiple sources: Verify the claim with reputable news outlets and relevant authorities before believing it or sharing it further.
