Bella Hadid 'stands with Israel' deepfake

A video of Palestinian model Bella Hadid declaring support for Israel has been exposed as a deepfake, sparking ethical concerns about consent, privacy, and political disinformation. 

The video, which was posted on X (formerly Twitter) by CEO of Israeli NGO Shrink the Conflict Danel Ben Namer, shows Hadid appearing to apologise for past remarks and saying she stands with Israel following the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas militants. 

In the doctored video, Hadid says, 'On October 7, 2023, Israel faced a tragic attack by Hamas. I can't stay silent. I apologize for my past remarks. This tragedy has opened my eyes to the pain endured here and I stand with Israel against terror.'

However, the clip was denounced as a deepfake version of a speech the model gave in 2016 about her battle with Lyme disease. Hadid, who has a Palestinian father, has been a vocal proponent of Palestinian rights for years.