An alleged tragedy pushed by politicians and media figures has unraveled after reports confirmed a Gazan boy once declared dead is alive. The media lies involved false claims that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) killed eight-year-old Abdul Rahim “Abood” Muhammad Hamden. In reality, the boy was safely evacuated from Gaza with his mother, appearing in a video interview where he smiled and said, “Outside the Gaza Strip is nice.”
The misinformation spread after Tony Aguilar, a former Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) contractor, gave vivid but fabricated accounts of the boy’s supposed death. Aguilar told outlets that Israeli forces shot the child, even describing “a shot to the torso” and “a shot to the leg.” His story reached national prominence, amplified by commentators and politicians, including Tucker Carlson and Senators Bernie Sanders and Chris Van Hollen.
The GHF formally announced Thursday that the child is “alive and safe.” GHF executive chairman Johnnie Moore condemned those who spread the falsehoods, stating, “Too many people, including in the press and civil society, were quick to spread unverified claims without asking the most basic questions.”
Senator Ted Cruz called out Carlson’s role in elevating Aguilar’s claims, noting the host had sat “nodding solemnly” during the false interview. The revelation highlights the danger of rushing to blame Israel based on unverified reports, a pattern that has fueled misinformation in the ongoing conflict.
