Between April and mid-July, over 20,000 children in Gaza were treated for acute malnutrition, including 3,000 severely malnourished cases. Controversy arose from a photograph of an emaciated child, Muhammad Zakariya Ayyoub al-Matouq, which critics claimed misrepresented famine conditions. Journalist David Collier noted the child had cerebral palsy and suggested the family's health indicated non-famine-related causes for the child's appearance. Public debate ensued regarding the portrayal of the child's condition in the media, with differing views on its origins and authenticity.
Between April and mid-July this year, more than 20,000 children in Gaza were admitted to hospital for treatment for acute malnutrition, 3,000 of whom were severely malnourished.
An image of an 18-month-old boy, Muhammad Zakariya Ayyoub al-Matouq, sparked controversy, depicting him cradled in his mother's arms, skeletal and malnourished.
David Collier accused media outlets of using the images to promote a narrative of famine, citing a medical report claiming the child has cerebral palsy.
Some readers claimed the child’s condition is due to non-famine-related medical issues rather than starvation, leading to a debate on the nature of his suffering.
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