Dim Amor

The New York Times was forced to add a clarification to an article it published about the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, after it became clear that a toddler presented as a symbol of hunger in Gaza actually suffers from rare genetic diseases. The correction came two days after the publication of an independent investigation that exposed the truth behind the image that went viral worldwide.

The photograph of one-and-a-half-year-old toddler Muhammad al-Maatouq, taken by Gazan journalist Ahmed al-Areini, was published in recent weeks in leading media outlets around the world. The toddler was photographed being held in his mother's arms, wearing a diaper made from a black garbage bag, in an image that shocked the world and became a symbol of the humanitarian crisis in the Strip.

The image was published in leading newspapers and websites such as CNN, Sky News, The Guardian, Daily Mail, The Times and BBC. Even the British newspaper Daily Express, considered pro-Israeli, chose to publish the documentation. Al-Areini, who took the photographs, claimed that Muhammad's weight dropped from 9 kilograms to 6 kilograms – about half the normal weight of a healthy child his age, and that the toddler wore an "improvised" diaper made from a garbage bag due to lack of humanitarian aid.

According to the Gazan journalist's claim, the toddler received no breast milk, infant formula, or any vitamins when the photograph was taken on July 21. These claims turned the image into a powerful propaganda tool against Israel and created a wave of international outrage toward Israeli policy in the Strip.

However, independent journalist David Collier conducted a comprehensive investigation into this case, which exposed a completely different reality. Collier based his findings on a medical report from the "Basma Association for Aid in Gaza", signed and approved by Gazan doctor Dr. Said Muhammad al-Nassan. The report reveals that the toddler suffers from rare genetic diseases, including cerebral palsy and oxygen deficiency in the blood.

The medical report further reveals that Muhammad has needed special nutritional supplements since his birth in December 2023 – about two months after the outbreak of war – and that the complex medical condition is the result of a chronic disease affecting his muscles, movement, and posture. These findings indicate that the toddler's health condition stems from a genetic disease and not from hunger or food shortage.

Following the publication of the investigation, The New York Times was forced to add an "editor's note" at the end of the original article. The note stated that "this article has been updated and includes information about Muhammad al-Maatouq, a child in Gaza suffering from severe malnutrition. After the article's publication, The Times learned from his doctor that Muhammad also had previous health problems". The newspaper claimed that the toddler's health deteriorated rapidly in recent months as it became increasingly difficult to find food and medical care.

The clarification was published only on the newspaper's public relations account on X network, which is not known to the general public, and not on the official account that has tens of millions of followers. The Israeli Consulate in New York reported that the clarification was written following their appeal, and Consul General Ofir Akunis expressed harsh criticism of international media which, according to him, "falls time and again for Hamas's abhorrent lies propaganda".

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett reacted sharply to The New York Times' clarification and wrote on social media: "This is simply incomprehensible. After creating a tsunami of hatred toward Israel through that horrifying image, The New York Times now quietly admits that the child suffered from underlying diseases." Bennett accused the newspaper of knowing about Hamas's use of infants with underlying diseases and called the publication a "blood libel in 2025".

Collier's investigation revealed additional details indicating manipulation in the photograph. The journalist noted that the image taken by al-Areini avoids showing Muhammad's older brother, three-year-old Jude, who appears in good health in other photographs taken by the Gazan journalist. Furthermore, according to the photographs, Muhammad's mother, Huda, does not appear to suffer from extreme hunger that would indicate significant food shortage.

Collier also criticized the BBC, which published a 64-second interview with mother Huda, in which the fact that Muhammad suffers from rare genetic diseases was omitted. According to Collier, "even in the video the mother hints at this, referring to a prolonged struggle that included physiotherapy treatments that helped the child stand on his feet". The journalist emphasized that the curvature of the toddler's spine is an additional clue to the diagnosis of cerebral palsy, but the BBC narrator did not refer to this at all.

In The New York Times' corrected article, it was noted that Muhammad was diagnosed as suffering from severe malnutrition by the "Patient's Friends" clinic and Al-Rantisi Children's Hospital, but there wasn't much they could do. In a recent visit to the clinic, the mother said, "They told me – his treatment is food and water".

The case demonstrates the challenges facing international media outlets in covering the war in the Gaza Strip, and the difficulty of separating genuine information from propaganda. The use of images of sick children to influence international public opinion raises questions about journalistic responsibility and the need for thorough verification of information before publication.

The incident joins a series of similar cases in which images or stories published as examples of the humanitarian crisis in the Strip were found not to fully reflect reality. The Israeli Consul General in New York clarified that Israel will continue to fight for truth and facts and shatter Hamas propaganda in every possible way.

This case raises important questions about the role of media outlets during wartime and the responsibility placed on them to ensure the accuracy of information before publication, especially when dealing with content that has the potential to influence international public opinion and diplomatic relations. The New York Times' late correction highlights the damage that can be caused when inaccurate information is disseminated before thorough verification, and the difficulty of correcting the damage after the information has already gone viral worldwide.

Photo: Ahmed al-Areini