by Shir Perets
“We have since learned new information, including from the hospital that treated" Gazan child Mohammed Zakaria al-Mutawaq, the New York Times wrote.
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Disclaimer: This article contains discussions of sensitive issues, including childhood illness and starvation.
The New York Times amended its article that detailed starvation in Gaza on Tuesday to include that a child featured in the story and its front page, Mohammed Zakaria al-Mutawaq, had a preexisting medical condition that impacts his 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.”
We have appended an Editors' Note to a story about Mohammed Zakaria al-Mutawaq, a child in Gaza who was diagnosed with severe malnutrition. After publication, The Times learned that he also had pre-existing health problems. Read more below. pic.twitter.com/KGxP3b3Q2B
— NYTimes Communications (@NYTimesPR) July 29, 2025
The amendment came after the Israeli Consulate General in New York made the request, and after the photo of Mutawaq with his brother spread across social media. The consulate informed the NYT of Mutawaq’s medical condition, according to Israeli media, citing Israeli sources.
“It’s unfortunate that the international media repeatedly falls for Hamas propaganda. First they publish, then they verify, if at all,” Israeli Consul General in New York Ofir Akunis stated.
The state of Israel shared an additional photo of Mutawaq, showing the child's condition in comparison to his mother and brother, highlighting how his preexisting conditions contributed to his physical condition.
"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 accused.
According to Israel's Foreign Ministry, Mutawaq suffers from cerebral palsy, along with additional genetic disorders, and has claimed that international media chose to use his photo “to promote a narrative of mass starvation in Gaza, playing into the hands of Hamas’ propaganda war.”
Unlike his brother standing by his side, Muhammad Zakariya Ayyoub al-Matouq suffers from cerebral palsy.
— Israel ישראל (@Israel) July 29, 2025
But 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 —… pic.twitter.com/UzP5PhNSvU
“Without proper disclosure. Without medical context. Without journalistic ethics,” the ministry wrote.
Claims surrounding Mutawaq's father's death
Additionally, international media outlets have reported that Mutawaq’s father was killed when he “went out to seek food.”Independent journalist David Collier questioned whether the father, at the time of his death, was looking for food. Collier alleged that he was killed in a targeted strike on ‘al Qassabeeb’ street in Jabaliya. The Jerusalem Post could not independently verify the claims made by Collier.
Turns out he was killed on 28 October 2024 (don’t worry – receipts in article below). He was killed in a targeted strike on ‘al Qassabeeb’ street in Jabaliya.
— David Collier (@mishtal) July 27, 2025
The Israelis lost 7 soldiers in that area in that week. 7/13 pic.twitter.com/j5Kbt6nIAp
Collier shared a video published by Hamas showing terrorists targeting IDF soldiers on ‘al Qassabeeb’ street the week of his 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.
Shir Perets
Source: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-862667
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