The nightly news offers up heartrending images of Gazans, mainly children, who are all skin and bones, and are universally described as victims of a “famine” deliberately caused by the heartless Israelis. It turns out that many of these emaciated Gazans were suffering not from starvation, but from congenital illnesses that give them that appearance of being victims of starvation, with sunken cheeks, ribs showing, scrawny legs. They look as if they are close to death. But the Israelis have studied these examples of “starvation” and revealed the congenital illnesses — not starvation — from which these Gazans have been suffering. These include several cases of cerebral palsy, a rare form of leukemia, and Fanconi’s syndrome, all of which present as emaciated bodies but, in fact, their illnesses have nothing to do with starvation. “Gazan child featured on Daily Mirror suffers from disease, not malnutrition, Israel reveals,” Jerusalem Post, August 24, 2025:
The Coordinator for Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) on Sunday evening published evidence documenting that a Gazan toddler featured on the front page of the UK’s Daily Mirror suffered from a genetic disease, as opposed to malnutrition, which the newspaper claimed.
The Daily Mirror’s front page alleged that three-year-old Karim Ali Fouad Abu Mu’amar’s malnourished appearance and frail physical condition stemmed from what the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) declared last week to be a famine in the Gaza Strip.
The page featured a photo of the child, along with a headline describing a call from Holocaust survivors to “end aid catastrophe” and “stop starving Gaza’s kids.”
According to COGAT, Mu’amar is suffering from a genetic illness called Fanconi syndrome, which could lead to muscle and urinary tract weakness. The rare kidney disorder is hereditary, with COGAT noting that the disease also affected other members of the child’s family.
A report from the European Hospital in Gaza recovered by COGAT shows Mu’amar’s diagnosis as a 10-month-old infant.
“The terrorist organization Hamas continues to spread false narratives as part of a deceptive propaganda campaign,” COGAT said, accusing foreign media outlets of “serving as their platform without any examination or verification.”…
Around the world, the pro-Hamas media have been falsely reporting as examples of deliberate starvation Gazans, almost all of them children, who in fact have been suffering from congenital illnesses that give them an emaciated appearance; the world’s media have paid no attention to Israeli claims about those congenital illnesses, and simply pass on, without investigating, Hamas’ claims about children “being starved to death in Gaza.”
Surely part of the story about “Gazan children” suffering from “deliberate starvation” is that so many of those children who are depicted as such victims in fact are not starving at all, but are instead victims of congenital diseases, including a rare form of leukemia, cerebral palsy, and Fanconi’s syndrome, that give them that heartrending emaciated appearance. The Israelis have repeatedly pointed this out, but having made up its mind about the surpassing villainy of the Jews, the world’s media is disinclined to listen. Still, the Israelis must continue to make their case. And we can continue to help make it for them.
John Smith says
Have you noticed how well fed the parents look of these so-called starving babies. So I wouldn’t put it past some parents in Gaza to deliberately starve their own children, just so they could blame the Jews. I’ve yet to see a picture of an emaciated man or woman from Gaza, because if they exist you can be certain the BBC would be showing them.
James Lincoln says
Great point, John.
gravenimage says
Spot on, John. Parents are typically desperate to feed their children, and will go hungry themselves if they have to.
somehistory says
I have no doubt that you are right John.
I had a long-time friend who was born in Japan and had several sisters. After the end of the war, they were young children and food was scarce. She told me that her mom starved to death as she gave all of the available food to her young daughters.
It was very difficult to hear such a thing.
If the gazans were truly concerned about feeding their children, the children would be fed first.
Once upon a time, ads would be shown on television of little kids in Africa and Asia who were malnourished and even starving. When the pics and videos were made, the moms holding the babies were also skin and bone.
If the gazans were really starving, they wouldn’t be so fat.
Dave says
I worked as a healthcare professional for 36+ years.
When they first tried to foister this off on everyone as evidence of ‘famine’ and ‘starvation’, I laughed, but then, I realized that not everyone has had the experience I’ve had.
Look-up pictures of people who are really starving, like in the Sudan or other areas. If you do, you’ll see that the adults ‘starve’ right along with kids.
If you look-up medical maladies that are ‘wasting’ diseases, you’ll notice a distinct difference in how the person looks compared to true starvation cases.
Remember, too, that Hamas will do or say ‘anything’ to play the victim.
The people living in Gaza have learned, especially since Hamas took over in 2006, how to play the victim. They’ve been the world’s welfare children for at least 19 years and probably longer.
Instead of using all the UN’s donations, that is…the world’s donations…to build an infrastructure and educate the population on how to be sef-sufficient and earn a place in the world…Hamas built tunnels and weapons.
If you think the UN was unaware of what Hamas was doing…I’d like to talk to you about a great deal I’ll give you on some beachfront property in the Gobi desert.
gravenimage says
+1
CryHavoc says
They call it Pallywood. #qana
gravenimage says
Another ‘Starving Gazan’ Suffering from a Congenital Illness
……………………………………………….
Odd how this keeps happening, since there are supposed to be over half a million starving Gazans–more than one in four Gazans. Yet Hamas is unable to find any of them, and has to find people with some kind of wasting disease–or else pictures of starving Syrians, Yemenis, or Sudanese…
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Sick of all these Gaza stories
Frank’s hot sauce says
I wonder how many of these cases of congenital disease are the result of “cousin marriages”?
Troybeam says
Israel and other nations must stop all aid of any kind to Gaza.
The supplies are being given to the soldiers to keep the movement going.
It’s all a scam and the only way is to stop all supplies to find out who is also supporting them.
Israel when going into Gaza, found the tunnels they filled up with a foam that hardens but also should have
leveled all buildings, destroyed all roads in and out of the city. No one is innocent not even the children because Islam teaches them from birth on to hate and parents teach them to be martyrs for Islam and the reward will be waiting for them in heaven.
Eamples:
Mother places suicide belt on her child:
“I will put it on you
and you will go to your death,”
on Fatah-Lebanon Facebook page
by Itamar Marcus and Nan Jacques Zilberdik
The Facebook page for Fatah in Lebanon has posted this picture of a mother dressing her young son with a suicide belt. Palestinian Media Watch has documented the ongoing glorification of violence and Martyrdom by the PA. This picture was posted on the Fatah Facebook page together with an imaginary conversation between the son who is being sent to his death and the mother encouraging it. “Why me and not you?” the child innocently asks his mother, who answers that she will continue to have more children “for the sake of Palestine”:
“My mother dressed me in a strange belt (i.e., a suicide belt).
I asked her: ‘What is this, mother?’
She said: ‘I will put it on you and you will go to your death!’
I said to her: ‘Mother, what have I done that you want me to die?’
She shed a tear that hurt my heart and said: ‘The homeland needs you, son. Go and blow up the sons of Zion.’
I said to her: ‘Why me and not you?’
She said: ‘I will stay in order to give birth to more children for the sake of Palestine.’
I kissed her hand and said to her: ‘Keep it up, mother, for you and for Palestine I will kill the impure and the damned.'”
[Fatah-Lebanon’s Facebook page,
posted Sept. 3, 2012, accessed Oct. 28, 2012]
The Facebook page states that it is “the official page of Fatah’s Information and Culture Commission in Lebanon,” and is linked to from the official website of the Fatah Information and Culture Commission (www.fatehmedia.ps).
The PA-funded educational magazine for children, Zayzafuna, published an essay earlier this year written by an 11 year-old lauding death as a Martyr:
“How do you know that you’re a Palestinian?”
by Asil Khaled, 5th grade student – El-Bireh
“If you know that you were born with a death sentence, and if you go to your death without caring – then you’re a Palestinian!
If your song is the song of Martyrdom (Shahada), and death, for you, is birth – then you’re a Palestinian!
If you love death, and you say the Shahada [declaration] (i.e., the Islamic creed: “There is no God but Allah, Muhammad is Allah’s messenger.”) aloud – then you’re a Palestinian!
If you’ve ever felt that you’re an exploding body and that your soul will long one day to be a knight for the homeland – then you’re a Palestinian!
If the stone is your weapon against oppression, and if those who hate [you] criticize your struggle – then you’re a Palestinian!
If you have saturated the tree of the homeland with your free blood, with love, and have offered the remnants of your bodily parts as a bridge for those who are yet to come – then you’re a Palestinian!
If you have shattered the chains, and carried the key to the house from which [your] grandparents were expelled – then you’re a Palestinian!
If your wedding (i.e., a Martyr’s funeral in Islamic tradition is a wedding to 72 Maidens of Paradise) was amidst a hail of bullets between the shoulders of friends [who carried your body], against the sound of tears mingled with joy (i.e., of achieving Martyrdom) and the searing pain of separation- then you’re a Palestinian, and you’re full of pride at being a Palestinian.”
[Zayzafuna, Jan. 2012]
Click for more information on Zayzafuna.
During the years of the Palestinian Authority terror campaign (the Intifada, 2000 – 2005), Palestinian Media Watch documented that the PA actively promoted Martyrdom (Shahada) as an ideal that children should strive for. Music videos for children indoctrinating them to see Martyrdom as “sweet” were broadcast hundreds of times on PA TV. In recent years, Martyrdom for children continues to be glorified by the PA in contexts for children but with lesser frequency.
The following are two examples of encouraging children to seek death as Martyrs for Allah, and one example of two girls embracing this ideal:
This video, designed to offset a child’s natural fear of death, portrays Martyrdom as both heroic and tranquil. The film’s hero, a teenager, leaves a farewell letter describing the death he is seeking as pleasurable:
“Don’t be sad my dear [father], and don’t cry over my parting.
My dear father, for my country, I sacrificed myself.
With determination and desire, I will keep my promise.
How sweet is Martyrdom (Shahada), when I am embraced by you, my land!
How sweet is Martyrdom (Shahada), when I am embraced by you, my land!
My beloved, my mother, most dear to me,
be joyous over my blood, don’t cry for me.”
[PA TV (Fatah), broadcast hundreds of times from 2001-2004]
Click to view
Muhammad Al-Dura (a boy who was killed in a televised crossfire) calls other children to follow him to a joyous child-Martyr Paradise. Al-Dura runs on the beach with his kite, and even goes to an amusement park:
Text on screen: “I am waving to you, not in parting, but to say follow me. By Muhammad Al-Dura.”
Narrator: “How sweet is the fragrance of the martyrs. How sweet is the fragrance of the earth, its thirst quenched by the gush of blood flowing from the youthful body. How sweet is the fragrance of the earth. The boy [Muhammad Al-Dura] cried: Oh father, till we meet, till we meet, father, till we meet, I will go with no fear and without crying. How sweet is the fragrance of the martyrs. I will go, father, to my place in heaven. How sweet is the fragrance of the martyrs. Oh father, till we meet, till we meet, Oh father, till we meet.”
[PA TV (Fatah), hundreds of times, 2001-2008]
Click to view
Host: “You described Martydrdom (Shahada) as something beautiful. Do you think it is beautiful?”
Walla, age 11: “Martyrdom (Shahada) is a very, very beautiful thing. Everyone yearns for Shahada. What could be sweeter than going to paradise?”
Host: “What is better, peace and full rights for the Palestinian people, or Shahada?”
Walla: “Shahada. I will achieve my rights after becoming a Shahida (Martyr).”
Host: “Ok, Yussra, would you agree with that?”
Yussra, age 11: “Of course; Shahada is sweet. We don’t want this world, we want the Afterlife. We benefit not from this life, but from the Afterlife.”
Host: “Do you actually love death? ”
Yussra: “Death is not Shahada.”
Host: “No, I mean the absence after death. ”
Yussra: “No child loves death. The children of Palestine adopted the concept that Shahada is very good. Every Palestinian child, say someone aged 12, says: Oh Lord, I would like to become a Shahid.”
Host: “We’ve got a call, Sabrine from Ramallah.”
Sabrine (on telephone): “Ayyat Al-Akhras was 17 when she blew herself up –
Host: “Sabrine, are you for it or against it?”
Sabrine (on telephone): “Of course I support blowing up, it is our right.”
Host: “Sabrine, now, is it natural that Ayyat Al-Akhras blows herself up?”
Sabrine (on telephone): “Of course it’s natural.”
[PA TV (Fatah), June 9, 2002]
Click to view
http://palwatch.org/main.aspx?fi=157&doc_id=7704
OLD GUY says
Simple Propaganda from Hamas and the fools who hate Israel want so desperately to believe it and help spread the B.S.