The New York Times has revised a recent story about hunger in Gaza to clarify that a child featured in the article, Mohammed Zakaria al-Mutawaq, who appeared on the front page, has an underlying medical condition that affects his physical appearance.
“We have since learned new information, including from the hospital that treated [Mutawaq] and his medical records, and have updated our story to add context about his pre-existing health problems.”
The update followed a request by the Israeli Consulate General in New York after a widely circulated image of Mutawaq and his brother gained attention online. Israeli media, quoting officials, reported that the consulate informed the Times of Mutawaq’s medical background.
“It’s unfortunate that the international media repeatedly falls for Hamas propaganda. First they publish, then they verify, if at all,” stated Israeli Consul General in New York Ofir Akunis.
“The [NYT’s] correction is just the beginning. We will continue to fight for the truth and expose Hamas’s propaganda of horrors by every possible means.”
The Israeli government also released another image of Mutawaq, placing him alongside his brother and mother, to demonstrate how his medical condition has influenced his appearance.
“BBC, CNN, Daily Express, and The New York Times spread a misleading story using a picture of a sick, disabled child to promote a narrative of mass starvation in Gaza, playing into the hands of Hamas’s propaganda war,” Israel charged.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry stated that Mutawaq has cerebral palsy in addition to other genetic ailments. It criticized global media outlets for allegedly using his image “to promote a narrative of mass starvation in Gaza, playing into the hands of Hamas’ propaganda war.”
“Without proper disclosure. Without medical context. Without journalistic ethics,” the ministry said.
Some international reports also included the claim that Mutawaq’s father was killed while searching for food.
However, independent reporter David Collier cast doubt on that version of events, alleging that the father died in a targeted strike on ‘al Qassabeeb’ street in Jabaliya. The Jerusalem Post noted that it could not independently corroborate Collier’s account.
Collier pointed to a video distributed by Hamas that shows militants attacking Israeli forces on that same street during the week of the father’s reported death.
“This is what ‘al Qassabeeb’ street in Jabaliya looked like that week… the same street that Mohammed’s father was apparently out ‘looking for food,’” he wrote.
{Matzav.com}
