New York Times issues clarification over viral photo of Gaza boy

Daily Telegraph

4 days ago

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The New York Times has issued a clarification over a viral photograph published by multiple outlets that has become controversial as critics seized on the health condition of the child pictured.
After running the photo on its front page with the headline 'Young, old and sick starve to death in Gaza', the publication confirmed in a statement issued Tuesday that the one-year-old at the centre of the image had been diagnosed with a pre-existing health condition.
In the photograph, which shocked the world last week, 18-month-old Muhammad Zakariya Ayyoub al-Matouq is being cradled by his mother as he faces away from the camera and his spine visibly protrudes from his back.
Muhammad Zakariya Ayyoub al-Matouq is being cradled by his mother in the photograph. Picture: Ahmed Jihad Ibrahim Al-arini/Anadolu/Getty
In a post on X, The New York Times said it had added an Editors' Note to its story after learning the boy 'also had pre-existing health problems' post publication.
'We recently ran a story about Gaza's most vulnerable civilians, including Mohammed Zakaria al-Mutawaq, who is 18 months old and suffers from severe malnutrition,' the accompanying statement read.
'We have since learned new information, including from the hospital that treated him and his medical records, and have updated our story to add context about his pre-existing health problems.'
The newspaper, which is the first to release a clarification, said the additional information 'gives readers a greater understanding of his situation'.
The clarification came after David Collier, a British London-based independent journalist who lived in Israel for 19 years, shared a series of posts on social media 'exposing the truth' behind the viral image.
He claimed a medical report issued in Gaza in May 2025 shows the toddler was born with a serious genetic disorder, suffers from cerebral palsy and has been diagnosed with hypoxaemia – a medical conditional characterised by low oxygen in the blood.
He said other images showed the boy with his three-year-old brother and noted 'both mother and brother are healthy and fed'.
The World Health Organization has recorded 74 malnutrition-related deaths in the Gaza Strip this year, with 63 occurring in July alone.
The deaths include 24 children under five, a child over five, and 38 adults.
Images of Muhammad Zakariya Ayyoub al-Matouq were shared by multiple media outlets last week. Picture: Ahmed Jihad Ibrahim Al-arini/Anadolu/Getty
The photograph was taken in July. Picture: Ahmed Jihad Ibrahim Al-arini/Anadolu/Getty
The photographer, Ahmad al-Arini, told the BBC he took the photo in a bare tent which 'resembled a tomb'.
'I took this photo because I wanted to show the rest of the world the extreme hunger that babies and children are suffering from in the Gaza Strip,' he said.
The image, captured in July, was distributed by Turkish state news service, Anadolu Agency and Getty Images.
Mr Collier claimed a medical report issued in Gaza in May 2025 shows the toddler suffers from cerebral palsy and hypoxaemia. Picture: Ahmed Jihad Ibrahim Al-arini/Anadolu/Getty
Picture: Ahmed Jihad Ibrahim Al-arini/Anadolu/Getty
'Distress': Albanese addresses photo
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke of his emotional response to the distressing picture during question on Monday.
'My question is for the Prime Minister. I have been swamped by electorate people writing to me of their horror of the atrocities occurring in Gaza,'' independent MP Sophie Scamps said.
'France will soon join 147 nations in recognising Palestine as a state and a step towards As we witness the mass starvation and the killing of so many civilians and children in Gaza, when will Australia be prepared to recognise Palestine as a state?'
In response, Mr Albanese, who was not asked directly about the photograph, said he too shared 'the distress that people around the world would feel when they look at young Mohammed, 1 year old'.
'He is not a threat to the state of Israel nor is he someone who can be seen to be a fighter for Hamas,'' he said.
Anthony Albanese spoke of the toddler during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire/Martin Ollman
'He's a young child who deserves to be treated appropriately.
'And the position of the Australian government is very clear. That every innocent life matters.
'Every Israeli and every Palestinian. This conflict has stolen far too many innocent lives, tens of thousands of civilians are dead, children are starving.'
In parliament, Mr Albanese said Australia was calling upon Israel to comply immediately with its obligations under international law.
'We have also unequivocally condemned Hamas and said it can play no role whatsoever in the future state of Palestine and hostages must be released immediately,'' he said.
'I make three points about recognition. The first is that my government is committed to a two-state solution. Israel and Palestine.
'That has been a bipartisan position for a long period of time. Australia played a role in the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 and it's something we should be proud of.
'But what was envisaged was two states, not one.'
Originally published as New York Times issues 'new information' about viral Gaza photo