Israel: Viral photo of Gaza boy exploited to push false starvation claims

Al-Raqab’s photograph, which showed him visibly underweight and in distress, was widely shared on social media and reported in outlets including Al Jazeera and Italian media as evidence of famine.

By Pesach Benson, TPS

Israeli officials said on Monday that five-year-old Palestinian child Osama al-Raqab, whose frail image was circulated globally as a symbol of alleged starvation in Gaza, is suffering from a severe genetic illness unrelated to the war.

The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), a unit of the Israeli Defense Ministry, tweeted that Israel facilitated al-Raqab’s evacuation to Italy for treatment in June and condemned the use of his image in what it called a false narrative.

“Osama suffers from a serious genetic illness unrelated to the war,” COGAT stated.

“On June 12, we actively coordinated Osama’s exit from Gaza with his mother and brother through the Ramon airport.” He is currently receiving medical care at a hospital in Italy.

COGAT is a military unit that coordinates civilian issues in Gaza, Judea and Samaria.

Al-Raqab’s photograph, which showed him visibly underweight and in distress, was widely shared on social media and reported in outlets including Al Jazeera and Italian media as evidence of famine.

“Tragic images rightfully stir strong emotions, but when they’re misused to fuel hatred and lies, they do more harm than good,” COGAT said, warning that “compassion should not be exploited for propaganda.”

The unit urged international audiences to “check the facts before parroting blame,” and released a recent image of Osama in an Italian hospital gown.

His mother had previously pleaded for help, saying, “There’s no milk, no eggs, no meat – my child is dying slowly,” in an appeal that intensified calls for humanitarian intervention. At the time, many believed his condition reflected widespread starvation in the Strip.

The Israel Defense Forces on Sunday began airdropping humanitarian aid and instituted daily “tactical pauses” in Al-Mawasi, Deir al-Balah, and Gaza City between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.

These pauses, coordinated with the United Nations and other international groups, are designed to allow safe passage for aid convoys delivering food and medicine.

The military added that secure humanitarian corridors would remain in place between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m., and emphasized its willingness to scale up humanitarian efforts as needed.

“There is no starvation in Gaza,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday at a conference of evangelical Christians in Jerusalem.

“We will continue to fight until we achieve the release of our hostages and the destruction of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities. They shall be there no more.”

At least 1,180 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 50 remaining hostages, around 30 are believed to be dead.