Herzog contrasted these fabricated scenes with the very real suffering of Israeli hostages, exposing what he called Hamas’ “hypocrisy and manipulation.”

Standing alongside President Karis at the Estonian Presidential Palace, Herzog held up two photos: one of Israeli hostage Eviatar David, a Nova music festival attendee now emaciated after months in captivity; and another of Rom Breslavsky, who appeared in a recent Hamas video. Herzog juxtaposed these with a now-controversial image from Gaza showing Palestinians holding empty pots in front of a food distribution center. “It was all staged,” Herzog said. “There was food in the next room — the hostages who escaped from tunnels told us this. The captors are not starving. Our people are.”

His remarks follow revelations from the Süddeutsche Zeitung, which published an exposé showing how Hamas uses staged imagery to sway international opinion. According to the investigation, professional photographers — some working with international news agencies — were found directing civilians to pose with empty pots and in fabricated scenarios meant to convey starvation. “At least some of the images were presented in a false or misleading context,” the paper concluded.