The Story Behind a Famous Photo of a Starving Child in Gaza

0:00Today on State of the World, the story behind a famous photo of a starving child in Gaza.

0:10You're listening to State of the World from NPR. We bring you the day's most vital international stories up close where they're happening. It's Thursday, August 7th. I'm Greg Dixon. The photos were striking and spread widely. An emaciated child lying motionless in his mother's lap. The pictures are of 18-month-old Mohamed El Motawak and his mother, Hidayat El Motawak, in Gaza. And they're among many images broadcast and published by lots of major media organizations, including NPR, in the last weeks, depicting the extreme hunger that has gripped most of Gaza due to Israeli military restrictions on food going in.

0:50NPR producer Anas Baba met the family more than a week ago. They'd been displaced to a tent in Gaza City.

1:01But since that interview, the images of Muhammad have been widely circulated within Israel for a very different reason. Many believe the images show how the international media are falsifying reports about mass starvation in Gaza. NPR's Emily Feng brings us the story of that child and his life in Gaza today. Almost immediately after the images of 18-month-old Mohammed ricocheted around the world, an Israeli blogger falsely claimed the boy had cerebral palsy, which they claimed caused him to appear to be starving when he was not. In fact, he had been going up to four days without food at a time.

1:41That's Susan Mohammed Marouf, a nutrition specialist at the Patients' Friends Benevolent Society Hospital in Gaza. She's been Mohamed's primary doctor, treating him for malnutrition since January. She says the hospital gave him vitamins and milk. Mohamed's health improved. His mother, Hidayat al-Motawak, shows NP-year producer Anas Baba photos from that time. Mohamed is rotund and smiling, almost a different child from the one he is now. His doctors say Mohamed does not have cerebral palsy. He has muscular dystrophy. It's a genetic condition that in Mohammed causes lack of coordination. He has a slightly larger-than-average head as a result as well, and he is extra vulnerable to malnutrition.

2:27But with good food and physical therapy, his mother says Mohammed learned to stand this year. He used to laugh, play, and say mom and dad, she says. Then, in mid-March, Israel ended a temporary ceasefire. It tightened restrictions on what could get into Gaza. Food dried up. The United Nations says over 20 ,000 children have had to be treated for acute malnutrition since April. And many others, like Mohammed, have been unable to get treatment or even get a hospital bed.

3:04And his mother says Mohammed lost nearly nine pounds since March. He lost his newly acquired ability to stand and to speak. Feeding is essential for life. This is Dr. Sayyid Salah, a nutritionist who directs the hospital where Mohammed has been treated. If we give him good nutrients and other criteria for care of the baby, of the child, he will be dealing with a good life than what we are suffering now. With care and food, Mohammed can develop just as any other child would, he says. Even with Israel's new daily pauses in military operations, nearly every major humanitarian organization in Gaza, says Israel is allowing only a dribble of aid to be delivered.

3:50Though Israel's military says Hamas is responsible for the suffering in Gaza. Gaza health authorities have recorded dozens of children's deaths due to malnutrition in the past month. Figures some Israeli outlets dispute saying they are manipulated by Hamas. Here's Dr. Marouf, Mohammed's primary doctor.

4:11Dr. Marouf at Patients Friends Hospital emphasizes Mohamed is not the only child suffering chronic hunger. Her hospital is overwhelmed with pediatric malnutrition cases from kids with and without special needs. Dr. Salah, the hospital director, says don't take him at his word. If people think the mass hunger is Hamas propaganda...

4:37in Almedia to come here. Israel has banned foreign press access, except for limited trips accompanied by their own forces. Dr. Salah says let the international press into Gaza. Then they can see for themselves what is happening there. Emily Fang and Pure News with Anas Baba in Gaza City.

5:04That's the State of the World from NPR. Thanks for listening.