Images of gaunt children from Gaza do not definitively prove a widespread hunger crisis in the area.
In the heart of the Middle East, the Gaza Strip is experiencing a severe hunger crisis. According to numerous journalists, aid organizations, the World Health Organization, and other experts, the population is facing food insecurity.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warned of a potential famine in Gaza in late July. This dire prediction comes as the World Food Programme (WFP) reported a doubling of households suffering from extreme food insecurity between May and July 2025. More than 20,000 children have been treated for acute malnutrition, with over 3,000 severely malnourished during this period.
Hospitals have reported at least 16 hunger-related deaths of children under five since July 17. One such case involves a four-year-old girl who died due to severe malnutrition, exacerbated by mobility impairment.
The plight of the malnourished children in Gaza has been highlighted by heart-wrenching images. One such image shows Muhammad Zakariya Ayyoub al-Matouq, a one-and-a-half-year-old boy, in a severely malnourished state. His mother claims his condition worsened due to severe food shortages in the last four months.
The term "double chin" trended on social media after a Nius reporter compared Muhammad to his mother, drawing attention to the stark contrast in their physical conditions. However, a photo and its accompanying text have since been removed from an article by Nius, but no correction notice was issued.
The Israeli government is facing accusations from a UN special committee and several aid and human rights organizations of deliberately using hunger as a weapon against the civilian population in Gaza.
Pediatrician Aschoff explains that children do not react to hunger in the same way. Some develop "hunger bellies," while others appear emaciated. Adults, he says, can compensate for deficiency situations for longer due to more reserves.
However, the consequences of malnutrition are most severe in growing children, according to Simone Pott, spokesperson for the Welthungerhilfe. The effects of hunger are particularly noticeable quickly in young children.
Unfortunately, misinformation has also been spread regarding images of malnourished Palestinian children. In 2014, a photo of a girl at a food distribution point in Gaza was falsely claimed to be from Iraq. Similarly, an Italian newspaper used an old photo of a malnourished child from Gaza.
These harrowing images serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing crisis in Gaza. As the situation continues to deteriorate, it is crucial that international attention and aid are directed towards alleviating the suffering of the civilian population.
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