The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) published today a series of photos of Osama al-Raqab, a child whose image recently went viral online.
The photo was used to falsely portray Israel as responsible for the humanitarian situation in Gaza, evoking global outrage. However, COGAT revealed that Osama is not a victim of war injuries or deprivation, but suffers from a rare genetic disease unrelated to the conflict.
In fact, Osama left Gaza in June with his family in coordination with the IDF and is currently receiving medical treatment in Italy. The authorities emphasized the importance of compassion but warned against its exploitation for propaganda purposes.
“Don’t let empathy be hijacked by lies,” COGAT stated, urging the public to verify facts before sharing viral content.
