Unrelated Video From Azerbaijan Shared as Hamas ‘Capturing Israeli Officials'

This video shows Azerbaijan's intelligence agency, DTX arresting separatist group leaders.

Fact-Check: This video is from Azerbaijan and not related to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. 

(Source: Altered by The Quint) 

A video showing masked men in military uniforms with "DTX" written over them, stepping out of a car with three handcuffed men is being shared on social media platforms.

What are the users saying?: Users have claimed that the video shows the Hamas group capturing "top Israeli generals".

An archive of the post can be found here. 

(Source: X/Screenshot) 

This post had 38.7K views at the time of writing this story. (Archives of similar claims can be found here, here and here.)

What is the truth?: This video is not related to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.

• It shows Azerbaijani security agency, State Security Police (written as Dövlət Təhlükəsizliyi Xidməti - DTX in Azerbaijani language) arresting persons of illegal armed groups operating in the Karabakh region.

How did we find out?: Upon conducting a Google reverse image search of some keyframes, we came across a video which was the same as the viral video, uploaded by DTX's official channel on YouTube.

• It was uploaded on 5 October with the caption, "Persons organising the activities of illegal armed groups in Karabakh were arrested. (translated from Azerbaijani to English using Google Translate.)

• 2:27 minutes onward, the same visuals as the viral video can be seen.

• We matched the keyframes of the DTX video and found similarities. Swipe right to see the frames.

Here is a comparison between the viral video and DTX YouTube video. 

Here is a comparison between the viral video and DTX YouTube video. 

• The video description mentioned that a criminal case against Gukasyan Arkadi Arshaviri, Sahakyan Bako Sahaki and Ishkhanyan Davit Rubeni would continue for organising armed illegal activities in the Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.

• A news report by The Associated Press (AP) also confirmed the arrests made by Azerbaijan officials. It mentioned that the arrests were made on 3 October.

• It also noted that the arrests happened as the Azerbaijan authorities have continued to get control over the Nagorno-Karabakh region after a strong operation that warranted an "exodus of over 100,000 people — more than 80% of its ethnic Armenian residents," in September.

Here is a preview of the AP report. 

(Source: AP/Screenshot) 

• This tussle is a part of the long-standing conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Latest on the Israel-Palestine Conflict: As of 3:44 PM India Standard Time (IST), hospitals in Gaza are reported to be overwhelmed as Israel continues air assaults in Gaza, including residential buildings.

• The death toll of Palestinians has risen to 770, as said by the health ministry and reported by Al Jazeera.

• It also mentioned that Israel has "nearly evacuated" all Israelis living along the Gaza Strip.

• Three Palestinian journalists have also died in the Israeli airstrikes.

Conclusion: The viral video does not show Hamas 'capturing' Israeli generals. The video shows Azerbaijan officials arresting persons of illegal armed groups operating in the Karabakh region.

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