The New York Times has appended an editor’s note to a story it published last week that featured a widely circulated image of a young Palestinian child reportedly suffering from starvation in Gaza.

The correction follows questions raised about the medical condition and background of the child in the photo.

The original report, published as part of the Times' coverage of humanitarian conditions in Gaza, included a photo of 18-month-old Mohammed Zakaria al-Mutawaq.

The boy was described in the article as “diagnosed with severe malnutrition.”

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The accompanying image, showing al-Mutawaq with a visibly gaunt frame and protruding spine, went viral online, fueling concern over food insecurity in the Palestinian territory amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

On Tuesday, the New York Times added a note acknowledging that al-Mutawaq also suffers from pre-existing health conditions.

“We recently ran a story about Gaza’s most vulnerable civilians, including Mohammed Zakaria al-Mutawaq, who is about 18 months old and suffers from severe malnutrition,” a Times spokesperson said in a statement.

“We have since learned new information, including from the hospital that treated him and his medical records, and have updated our story to add context about his pre-existing health problems.”

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“This additional detail gives readers a greater understanding of his situation,” the spokesperson added.

The Times did not specify the nature of the health conditions referenced in the note.

However, multiple outside sources have highlighted further information not originally included in the article. Pro-Israel media watchdog HonestReporting pointed out that a July 27 photograph published by the Times shows al-Mutawaq’s older brother, Joud, in the background of the image appearing healthy and well-fed, raising questions about the narrative being presented.

Further details emerged during a CNN segment last week in which the boy’s mother said her son had a muscle disorder that requires specialized nutrition and physical therapy.

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She also stated that Mohammed is “happy” and able to “sit upright.”

Independent journalist David Collier published information last week that shed additional light on the child's condition.

Citing a May 2025 medical report from Gaza, Collier reported that al-Mutawaq suffers from cerebral palsy, hypoxemia, and a serious genetic disorder.

These conditions, which were not mentioned in the New York Times’ original report, could significantly impact the child’s physical appearance and developmental health independent of any current food-related issues.

The clarification comes as scrutiny intensifies over the media’s portrayal of humanitarian conditions in Gaza.

The image of al-Mutawaq had quickly spread across social media, with various groups using it to highlight alleged starvation conditions in the region.

Pro-Israel advocates argued that the image was being misrepresented or used without sufficient context, calling attention to what they described as a lack of journalistic rigor.

The correction from the Times adds to ongoing debates about the accuracy and framing of news coverage related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, especially in light of concerns about propaganda, selective reporting, and narrative-driven journalism.

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