Netanyahu: We May Sue New York Times for Defamation over Fake Starving Gaza Photo

Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu told reporters on Sunday that Israel might take legal action against The New York Times for defamation over a front-page photograph that falsely depicted a malnourished Palestinian child in Gaza.

Netanyahu examined three such images, pointing out that in each case, the child shown was actually suffering from a different illness, typically a genetic condition, while the adults and other children nearby appeared well-nourished.

He explained that the false accusation, claiming that Israelis were harming children, was rooted in medieval libels against Jews, which had historically led to violence against Jewish communities.

Netanyahu said: “The third one is the most celebrated one. This is a New York Times cover photo, it’s on the front page, of Muhammad Zakariya Ayyoub and his mother. Muhammad Zakariya Ayyoub is suffering from a genetic illness which we’re familiar with. It’s called cerebral palsy. His mother is well-fed and his brother is healthy. I’m looking right now into the possibility of a governmental suit against the New York Times because this is outrageous. Of course, the correction was postage-size — I don’t know where it was buried — but this is outrageous. These are the three most celebrated photos and they’re all fake. It’s the kind of malignant lies that were leveled at the Jewish people in the Middle Ages. We won’t suffer. We won’t allow it to go unchallenged. And this is the purpose of this press conference. I hope that you open your eyes to a simple fact: Hamas lies.”

Netanyahu also stood by Israel’s military actions in Gaza, emphasizing that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were working to provide aid to the region, while also striving to eliminate Hamas and secure the release of the remaining Israeli hostages.