Gaza Boy Viral Death Claim Debunked, Confirmed Alive

An eight-year-old boy from Gaza, Abdul Rahim Muhammad Hamden, also known as Abboud, who was widely reported to have been killed by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in May at a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) aid site, has been confirmed alive following a rescue operation by GHF. The initial viral claim was made by former GHF contractor Tony Aguilar, whose story was extensively used by media and some U.S. politicians to criticize Israel, but was later disproven through biometric verification, facial recognition, and recent footage showing the boy safe and well. Abboud had left his stepmother’s care and was hiding with his biological mother, Najlaa, until their safe extraction from Gaza to an undisclosed location. GHF condemned the spread of the false narrative, highlighting its use by Hamas and others to undermine Israel and humanitarian aid efforts. The boy and his mother remain in a secure location as the GHF continues its operations in Gaza. This revelation debunks misinformation that had fueled tensions and impacted perceptions of the conflict.