Information attributed to Reuters about the kidnapping of the Israeli ambassador to Cyprus has spread on social media. The claim reads as follows: “Reuters: The Israeli ambassador to Cyprus has been kidnapped, along with two of his companions, and contact with them has been lost.”
Kashif verified the information and found it to be fabricated, as the Israeli ambassador to Cyprus, Oren Anolik, posted a video clip on his official account on “X” on Wednesday, 2/10/2024, in which he explained that he is fine and that what is being circulated about his kidnapping is just false information.
“Hello everyone, I would like to clarify that I had to make this video because there is some kind of fake news going around that I have been kidnapped. I assure you that this never happened, I am fine, everything is fine. It seems that someone has come up with a very creative way to get the whole world to call me and text me and wish me a Happy Jewish New Year. So, thank you,” Anolik said in the video.
Kashif’s team also searched the official website of Reuters and did not find any mention of the kidnapping of Israel’s ambassador to Cyprus.
Kashif had previously verified a group of claims about burning and targeting the Israeli embassies in India, Bahrain, and Istanbul, and it turned out that they were incorrect.
| Sources of claim | Sources of verification |
| Iraqi Channel One – Alawla TV Russia Now Nasser Al-Dosari #Jerusalem_is_Uprising Discussions of Ahrar Al-Amari Urgent from Gaza WhatsApp groups | Oren Anolik Detector 1 Detector 2 Detector 3 |
