Pro-Israel activists deep fake Bella Hadid video showing Palestine 'remorse'

Israel supporters have produced a deep fake video of Palestinian-American supermodel Bella Hadid "walking back" on previous pro-Palestine comments. 

Using the hashtag #WeFixedItForBella, activists used AI to distort a 2016 acceptance speech by Hadid to show her "apologise" for past comments regarding Israel.

Hadid is well known for her pro-Palestine stance and has slammed Israel's brutal assault on Gaza, which to date has killed more than 8,300 people.

She says her stance has cost her jobs, but she has remained resolute in supporting the Palestinian cause, despite attempts to silence her or manipulate her words.

"Hi, it's Bella Hadid, on October 7th 2023, Israel faced the tragic attack by Hamas. I can't stay silent," Hadid "says" in the manipulated video.

"I apologise for my past remarks - this tragedy has opened my eyes to the pain endured here and I stand with Israel against terror. I've taken time to truly understand the historical context and now with a clearer understanding I hope we can engage in constructive dialogue moving forward."

Thread: Israel-Hamas war misinformation - Day 23

A deepfake video of US model Bella Hadid, in which she apologises for her "past remarks" about Israel, has been viewed millions of times.

The deepfake is a manipulated version of Hadid's remarks at a 2016 lyme alliance ceremony. pic.twitter.com/dkk5qCeCdg

— Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan86) October 30, 2023

Analysts pointed out that while the video was a fake it did not prevent some unknowing Twitter users from sharing it.

The original video was taken from a 2016 Global Lyme Alliance ceremony speech, where Hadid, who has suffered from Lyme disease, dedicated the award to all teenagers suffering from the sickness.

People felt that choosing a video in which Hadid spreads awareness about a little-known disease was unethical, even if the manipulation was meant to be satirical.

"[AI] is being used to FAKE videos of Bella Hadid supporting Israel," one person wrote on Twitter.

"This deepfake is a new low, manipulating a sensitive issue for personal / political gain. But the truth is clear: Bella is Palestinian and her family is with Palestine."

Hadid has repeatedly spoken out in support of Palestine, leading to criticism from supporters of Israel.

Hadid on 26 October broke three weeks of silence on Israel's bombing of Gaza by highlighting the urgent humanitarian need to help the people of the besieged enclave.

"Forgive me for my silence. I have yet to find the ideal words for this deeply intricate and horrific past 2 weeks, weeks that have turned the world's attention back towards a situation that has been taking innocent lives and affecting families for decades," she said.

"My heart is bleeding with pain from the trauma I am seeing unfold, as well as the generational trauma of my Palestinian blood. Seeing the aftermath of the airstrikes in Gaza, I mourn with all the mothers who have lost children and the children who cry alone, all the lost fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, and friends who will never again walk this earth."

Her sister, Gigi, posted a story on Instagram in support of Palestinians nearly two weeks earlier.

"There is nothing Jewish about the Israeli government's treatment of Palestinians. Condemning the Israeli government is not antisemitic, and supporting Palestinians is not supporting Hamas," she said in the post.

Bella has laid into Israeli politicians including far-right National Security Minister and settler leader Itamar Ben-Gvir for saying that his family's freedom of movement around the occupied West Bank superseded Palestinian civil rights.

"In no place, no time, especially in 2023 should one life be more valuable than another's," said Hadid in the post.

"Especially simply because of their ethnicity, culture, or pure hatred."