French TV Channel Apologizes, Pulls Film After Nuclear Strike Simulation on Tel Aviv

French educational channel RMC Découverte has issued a formal apology and removed a documentary from its schedule after it was discovered that a 3D model of Tel Aviv was used to simulate a nuclear strike. The film, which aired on September 1, focused on modern weaponry, specifically the Rafale F5 fighter jet and the ASN4G nuclear-capable hypersonic missile.

One segment featured computer graphics depicting a plane launching a missile at a coastal city, followed by a mushroom cloud. Eloise Faye, a researcher at the French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), noticed that the city shown was Tel Aviv and brought it to the channel's attention. On September 18, RMC Découverte announced the immediate removal of the film from all digital platforms and canceled planned reruns.

The channel stated that the clip was acquired from a third-party professional stock photo agency, where it was mislabeled. RMC Découverte apologized to viewers and emphasized that the editorial team had no knowledge of the graphic's depiction of a real Israeli city. Director Alex Gary expressed shock, stating that the stock photo description provided no indication that the graphic represented a real city or any location in Israel, and that such information would have prevented its inclusion.

Approximately 241,000 viewers saw the initial broadcast. RMC Découverte plans to release an edited version of the film without the controversial segment and is considering legal action against the content providers responsible for the error. There is currently no evidence to suggest that Tel Aviv's selection as a target was intentional.