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They Became Symbols for Gazan Starvation. But All 12 Suffer from Other Health Problems

(Free Press) Olivia Reingold and Tanya Lukyanova - An investigation by the Free Press reveals that at least a dozen viral images of starvation in Gaza lacked important context: The subjects of those photos have significant health problems. In every instance, they were already facing grave situations because of their health. But those photos have helped convince a growing number of Americans that Israel has induced famine and is committing war crimes in Gaza. "Maryam has been suffering from malnutrition for a year and a half," says the mother of Maryam Dawas, 9. "I suspect that Maryam has another problem besides malnutrition," she said in Arabic in a video, adding that she had taken her daughter to multiple doctors in search of a diagnosis. Yet the story of her malnutrition appeared in the Los Angeles Times, The Telegraph, and The Guardian. On July 29, The Guardian published an image of toddler Youssef Matar under the headline: "Famine Under Way in Gaza." Reuters published the same image a few days before with the caption: "Palestinian mother Samah Matar holds her malnourished son Youssef, who suffers from cerebral palsy." NPR accompanied a July 29 article headlined "People Are Dying of Malnutrition in Gaza" with a photo of an emaciated Hamza Mishmish, 25, being carried by another Gazan. Yet a local woman said in a July 30 video published by the PA news agency: "He has, of course, had a disability since birth - he has cerebral palsy and suffers from many countless illnesses." A CNN article titled "Starvation in Gaza" included an image of Hajjaj, 6. Her father told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that she suffers from an "esophagus condition" that results in "constant vomiting." Her mother said, "This condition has accompanied her throughout her life." Al Jazeera reported that Karam Khaled Al-Jamal, 27, died of starvation. Yet the Arabic edition of Turkey's Anadolu news agency reported that he suffered from muscular atrophy and partial paralysis since childhood - conditions that rendered his body unable to digest food. Photos of Osama Al-Raqab, 5, illustrated stories about the Gaza hunger crisis in The Guardian, CBC, Al Jazeera, and the Financial Times. None of these reports mentioned that Osama also suffers from cystic fibrosis, as AP reported.
2025-08-21 00:00:00
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