A Palestinian child, previously reported murdered by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza, has surfaced alive, now living in secrecy with his mother.
In July, Breitbart News highlighted a military contractor named Tony Aguilar, who was dismissed from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), as a source promoting this narrative. Aguilar, critical of the GHF, found support from anti-Israel media.
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), a notable opponent of Israel in Congress, has elevated Aguilar as a star witness, accusing Israel of committing war crimes, including the claim that an IDF soldier killed a boy called “Amir.”
This allegation was largely accepted by those in the U.S. who are inclined to trust GHF, which partners with Israel to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, not controlled by Hamas, unlike aid from the UN.
However, recent developments have dismantled this narrative as it turns out “Amir” is actually alive. Fox News reported that:
A young boy, initially identified as “Amir,” actually visited a distribution site operated by GHF and was thought to have been killed by the IDF in May while hiding with his mother.
In a unique interview with the boy, whose real name was confirmed as Abdul Rahim Muhammad Hamden, the 8-year-old and his mother responded to inquiries through a GHF translator.
They were safely extracted from Gaza, although the specific location was not disclosed for their protection.
There were concerns from Hamas about him, and after the false reports of his death, he had to go into hiding.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nosrg9iubgs
In a statement, GHF explained how it managed to identify and rescue the boy.
“We are relieved that Abad is safe, ending this story on a hopeful note. The outcome is never certain, due to the bravery and commitment of our American team. While this story concludes positively, it could have ended in tragedy. Many, including media and civil society, too swiftly spread unverified claims without addressing fundamental questions. Both the public and policymakers should scrutinize what they hear elsewhere about these inaccuracies,” GHF said.
Aguilar, terminated for fraud, sought help at the GHF site, fabricated a tale about a boy named “Amir” being killed by the IDF on May 28th, and repeated these fabrications across various media platforms, detailing the supposed final moments of the boy with false specifics. He shared images of boys amplifying a misleading narrative.
However, further investigation revealed that Aguilar’s actual encounter with the child was brief and negative, instructing him simply to “go home.” The boy returned unharmed, yet Aguilar’s misrepresentations went viral, putting the child and his family at risk from Hamas.
GHF initiated a thorough search for the boy and, using established community ties, traced him back to his extended family and eventually to his real mother. His identity was authenticated through various means, including biometrics and the clothing he wore on the day Aguilar falsely claimed to have witnessed his death.
The successful operation involved coordination between both Israel and the U.S. embassy with regional authorities.
Since launching in Gaza this past May, GHF has provided over 150 million meals directly to Palestinians.
“When Aguilar spread lies in late July, he showcased the boy globally and mischaracterized their interaction, crafting a fictitious viral story. This was an exploitative narrative Hamas used to incite outrage and violence,” GHF spokesperson Chapin Fay stated during a press conference.
