Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Sunday that his government is considering suing the New York Times for defamation, accusing the paper of publishing a front-page photo that falsely claimed to depict a starving Palestinian child in Gaza. Netanyahu said the child, Muhammad Zakariya Ayyoub, actually suffers from cerebral palsy, and that his family members shown in the image appeared healthy and well-fed.
Netanyahu cited two other similar cases, arguing that the false portrayals perpetuate long-standing antisemitic libels dating back to the Middle Ages, which historically incited violence against Jewish communities. “These are the three most celebrated photos and they’re all fake,” Netanyahu said. “It’s the kind of malignant lies that were leveled at the Jewish people in the Middle Ages. We won’t suffer. We won’t allow it to go unchallenged.” He criticized the Times for issuing what he described as a “postage-size” correction buried in the paper.
The Prime Minister also defended Israel’s military actions in Gaza, stressing that the Israel Defense Forces are increasing aid deliveries while continuing operations to dismantle Hamas and secure the release of Israeli hostages. “Hamas lies,” Netanyahu told reporters, urging the media to scrutinize claims emerging from the Gaza Strip.
The New York Times has faced mounting criticism from Israeli officials and media watchdog groups over its coverage of the war. If pursued, Netanyahu’s proposed legal action would mark a rare move by a national government to challenge a major U.S. outlet in court over war reporting.
