https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67206277

Omer and Omar: How two 4-year-olds were killed and social media denied it

25 October

Image caption,

Omer Siman-Tov and Omar Bilal al-Banna were both killed in the Israel-Gaza war

By Marianna Spring

BBC disinformation and social media correspondent

In the opening days of the Israel-Gaza war two small boys, both aged four, were killed. One was Israeli, one Palestinian. But many posts I saw on social media weren't mourning their deaths - instead, they were trying to deny the killings had taken place.

Omar Bilal al-Banna and Omer Siman-Tov lived roughly 23km (14.3 miles) apart, on either side of the Israel-Gaza perimeter fence. They never met, but both loved playing outside with their siblings.

The faces of these little boys have appeared on my social media feed in the past week. They were both killed as violence unfolded.

I've tracked down family, friends and witnesses. In both cases they tell a tragic story.

Omer Siman-Tov was killed when Hamas attacked his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on 7 October.

Omar Bilal al-Banna was killed four days later, following an Israeli airstrike on Zeitoun, east of Gaza City.

The way the boys' deaths have been denied by social media users is symbolic of an information battle, running in parallel with the war on the ground.

There have been brazen attempts to downplay or deny violence committed against children.

These false allegations have shocked family and friends grieving the loss of their loved ones - and the people who witnessed what happened.

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Mor Lacob later found out that Omer's parents, Tamar and Yonatan, had been shot dead. Their three children - Omer plus his older sisters Shachar and Arbel - were killed when their home was set on fire. Their deaths have been covered by major news outlets.
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