Part 4/10:
The un-cropped version of the photo shows Muhammad’s mother and brother, both appearing healthy and not emaciated, starkly contrasting the initial depiction of extreme suffering. This manipulation leverages emotional imagery to garner sympathy for Gaza’s civilians, while obscuring the truth of the child's condition.
Media outlets like CNN, the BBC, and various European newspapers picked up the story, amplifying the emotionally charged portrayal. CNN, for example, captioned a related image with "Palestinians are starving or being killed by Israeli troops," while the Daily Mail described children as "reduced to skin and bones." Even political figures, such as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, referenced the image in discussions about Gaza.