An image shared on Facebook claims to show a sign purporting that the English town of Rochdale is “twinned with Gaza and the West Bank.”

Screenshot captured via Facebook

Verdict: False

According to the Rochdale Council Borough’s website, the town of Rochdale is twinned with Lviv in Ukraine, Bielefeld in Germany, Sahiwal in Pakistan and Tourcoing in France, but not Gaza and the West Bank. Additionally, Reuters indicated the Facebook image of the purported sign is fake in a Mar. 12 article.

Fact Check:

In August 2023, the Edinburgh Council “rejected proposals” calling for the Scottish city to “twin” with Gaza City, according to Morning Star Online. Edinburgh is currently twinned with 10 other cities, including Munich, the outlet reported.

“Free Zone Welcome to Rochdale Twinned with Gaza & [the] West Bank,” the text of the purported sign shared via the Facebook post reads. The image, shared via a pro-Sir Keir Starmer group, has received over 100 likes as of writing. Besides Facebook, the claim circulated on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter.

The claim is false, however. According to the Rochdale Council Borough’s website, the town of Rochdale is twinned with Lviv in Ukraine, Bielefeld in Germany, Sahiwal in Pakistan and Tourcoing in France, but not Gaza and the West Bank. The image of the purported sign also neither appears on the council’s website nor its associated social media accounts. (RELATED: Does This Image Show The New Electric Bus In Glasgow?)

Likewise, Check Your Fact found no credible news reports to support the claim. In fact, the opposite is true. Reuters indicated the Facebook image of the purported sign is fake in a Mar. 12 article. A spokesperson for the council directed Check Your Fact to the Reuters article.

The claim appears to have circulated online in relation to the recent election victory of pro-Gaza British politician George Galloway, according to Al Jazeera. Galloway, who represents the Workers Party of Britain, has returned to Westminster’s House of Commons following his victory in Rochdale, the outlet reported.