Israel Foreign Ministry Accuses Media of Misusing Palestinian Child’s Image in Smear Campaign
Notwithstanding Hamas' brutal October 7th assault, Israel wnet out of its way to seek help for a little Palestinian child, only to be repaid with hate and abuse. Welcome to 2025.
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The Israel Foreign Ministry (MFA) has sparked controversy with a July 28 X post accusing media outlets of exploiting a photo of Osama al-Raqab, a 5-year-old Palestinian boy with cystic fibrosis, to falsely portray Israel as responsible for his suffering. The post, which garnered significant attention, claims the child’s image was used in a “modern blood libel” to smear Israel, despite his medical evacuation to Italy on June 12, 2025, coordinated through Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) unit.
Osama al-Raqab, whose condition worsened during Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, was evacuated by Israel with his mother and brother via Ramon Airport for treatment in Italy, as confirmed by multiple sources, including the MFA and COGAT’s English X account.
Reports from May 2025, including by the Associated Press and CBC News, detailed his severe malnutrition and lack of access to meat, fish, and enzyme tablets critical for managing his cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder affecting digestion and breathing. These reports, predating his evacuation, highlighted Gaza’s blockade and war-related shortages, with his mother, Mona al-Raqab, noting his weight had dropped to 20 pounds.
The MFA’s post specifically criticizes an Italian newspaper, *Il Fatto Quotidiano*, for publishing a May 1, 2025, photo of Osama on its cover, allegedly implying Israel’s responsibility for his condition without mentioning his subsequent transfer. The post, echoed by users like @HenMazzig, @JewishWarrior13, and @LionsOfZion_ORG, labels this as propaganda, arguing the image was hijacked to misrepresent facts. The BBC also faced scrutiny for using a May 31, 2025, photo by Haitham Imad in Spanish and Portuguese reports on Gaza’s starvation crisis, without noting Osama’s cystic fibrosis or evacuation.
No official response from *Il Fatto Quotidiano* or the BBC has been reported as of now, but the debate continues to fuel polarized discussions.