"Anti-free speech YouTube targeted a video from Sen. Ted Cruz’s popular podcast where the lawmaker praised a report from MRC’s NewsBusters about fake videos depicting alleged victims in the Gaza Strip.

YouTube placed a contentious age restriction banner on the Nov. 14 episode of The Verdict podcast. During the show, Cruz and co-host Ben Ferguson highlighted a study by NewsBusters that exposed ABC, CBS and NBC for using dubious footage from Saleh Aljafarawi who has gone viral over accusations of being a crisis actor in the Hamas-governed Gaza Strip. “This video may be inappropriate for some users,” YouTube inexplicably warns potential viewers, before asking users to log in and “confirm” their age—but wait, there’s more.

Even for users who agree to sign in, YouTube placed yet another warning. “The following content may contain graphic or violent imagery,” YouTube claimed of the video. “Viewer discretion is advised.” Users have to click on a banner that reads “I understand and wish to proceed” before being able to watch Cruz unpack the MRC expose on the Big Three networks’ shoddy reporting. 

Here’s the kicker!

While it may seem benevolent that YouTube might try to shield its users from potentially disturbing images stemming from the Israel-Hamas war, the so-called distressing video — as reported by MRC — is all fake. Aljafarawi has over 3.6 million users on Instagram and is accused of being a crisis actor based out of Gaza for re-creating videos. As reported by NewsBusters, Aljafarawi’s footage was plastered by ABC, CBS and NBC on its evening news shows on Nov. 10.

“If you’re on X (formerly known as Twitter) and follow the Israel-Hamas War, you’re likely aware of the man we’re about to speak of. Saleh Aljafarawi, dubbed ‘Mr. FAFO’ and ‘Mr. Pallywood,’ is a KNOWN Hamas-linked social media influencer and crisis actor.” - NewsBusters on Nov. 10.

In response to MRC’s findings, Cruz and Ferguson blasted the Big Three legacy media outlets for spreading propaganda campaigns created by someone accused of creating fake videos depicting wounded Gazans.

“I want to show part of this propaganda. NewsBusters found that ABC, CBS, and NBC elevated a Gaza video from a known propagandist influencer. This guy — we’re going to show you all the different jobs that he has,” Ferguson began. Indeed, Aljafarawi has appeared in these videos as the press and also a member of Hamas. Other videos have shown him pretending to be ill on a hospital bed.