Israeli Ambassador Condemns Exploitation of Palestinian Children in Propaganda
Rome, Italy – IsraelS Ambassador to Italy, Jonathan Peled, has strongly condemned what he described as the “intolerable” instrumental use of images of Palestinian children for propaganda purposes aimed at slandering Israel. Peled took to the social media platform X to voice his concerns, specifically targeting several media outlets, including The New York Times, CNN, and the BBC.
In his post, Ambassador Peled highlighted what he termed “three examples of manipulative use of photographs that portray minors.” He pointed to a recent Instagram post by The New York Times titled “Fame a Gaza,” which featured images of children, including an 11-month-old named Sila Rabah, presented as suffering from malnutrition. However, Peled stated that Dr.Ahmad al-farra, a pediatrician at Nasser Hospital in Gaza, asserted that Sila’s condition stemmed from a chronic nutritional deficiency, a claim also supported by the NGO Rebuilding Alliance.
Another case cited involved an image of Muhammad al-Màtouq and his mother, published with descriptions of the child’s critical condition due to malnutrition. This narrative, Peled noted, was widely reported by major international media, including The New York Times, BBC, Sky News, and The guardian. According to the Israeli diplomat, factual data indicates that the child suffers from a serious genetic condition, cerebral palsy, and muscular dystrophy.
Ambassador Peled urged the Italian press to disseminate corrections to ensure authoritative and impartial journalism, specifically calling on The New York Times to publish a correction for its reporting.
The use of children in conflict zones as symbols or subjects in media coverage is a sensitive issue. International humanitarian law and various ethical guidelines govern how minors should be portrayed, particularly in contexts of political or military conflict. Accusations of propaganda and misinformation are common in such situations, with different parties ofen presenting conflicting narratives and evidence. The role of media in accurately reporting on humanitarian crises while avoiding exploitation is a subject of ongoing debate and scrutiny.
Q: What specific allegations did the Israeli Ambassador make?
A: Ambassador Jonathan Peled alleged that images of Palestinian children were being used manipulatively in propaganda to slander Israel, citing specific examples from The New York Times, CNN, and BBC.
Q: What were the examples cited by the Ambassador?
A: He mentioned an 11-month-old named Sila Rabah, whose condition was attributed to malnutrition by some media but reportedly due to a chronic nutritional deficiency by a pediatrician and an NGO. He also cited the case of Muhammad al-Màtouq, whose critical condition was linked to malnutrition by media but reportedly due to genetic conditions and disabilities according to factual data.
Q: What action did the Ambassador request?
A: He requested the Italian press to disseminate corrections to ensure authoritative and impartial journalism and specifically asked The New York Times to issue a correction.
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