Above a picture of a starving girl in Gaza UN News

The New York Times ran pictures of a Gazan boy named Mohammed Zakaria al-Mutawaq (not the child pictured above) who was suffering from severe malnutrition. He has become the poster boy for starvation in Gaza. It turned out the child was born with a defect and was on a special diet, his body unable to absorb nutrients that he needs.

“We recently ran a story about Gaza’s most vulnerable civilians, including Mohammed Zakaria al-Mutawaq, who is about 18 months old and suffers from severe malnutrition,” a spokesperson for the (New York Times) outlet said in a statement “We have since learned new information, including from the hospital that treated him and his medical records, and have updated our story to add context about his pre-existing health problems,” – New York Post

One problem with this story is it detracts from the plight of children who actually are starving in Gaza. I looked around to find pictures of starvation that didn’t include this child.

This article from Middle East Eye shows a girl in Deir al-Balah, Hamas controlled territory, who is starving. Al-Jazeera has a video that shows different children who desperately need food, also in Hamas territory. The adults in the video look healthy. Reuters has these photos of children in Khan Younis; the first girl needs food. The other children in the picture series seem healthy with the exception of a small boy in his mother’s arms. She and the other adults look healthy.

I’m unable to find current photos of Hamas fighters, but I’m guessing they are getting plenty to eat.

Did You Know? Yahya Sinwar was arrested by the PA in 1988 for the killing of 2 suspected collaborators with Israel and two soldiers. He was sentenced to 4 life terms but was released in 2000. Later as an prisoner of Israel he was part of a exchange in 2011. He continued to torture and execute suspected collaborators gaining him the nickname “The Butcher of Khan Younis”. Wikipedia

Would members of Hamas intentionally starve children for political gain?

• New York Times stunningly rolls back claims about viral photo of starving Gaza boy New York Post
• ‘I strangled them with my own hands’: Chilling transcript of 1989 questioning of Yahya Sinwar revealed Israel Hayom
• Rape, sexual abuse, and pedophilia: How Hamas leader Sinwar ruled the yard (Feb 22,2024) Jerusalem Post
• Case Study 82