Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatens to sue The New York Times for blatant defamation after the paper’s front-page photo falsely portrayed a child with cerebral palsy as a victim of Gaza starvation.[2]
Story Snapshot
- Netanyahu calls out New York Times for using misleading photo of emaciated boy with cerebral palsy to claim mass starvation in Gaza.[1][2]
- Times issued a small correction admitting the child’s preexisting condition but buried it after the front-page hit piece.[1][2]
- Netanyahu explores legal action, questioning if a nation can sue the Times for clear defamation in Fox News interview.[2]
- Legal experts see potential for huge damages against the Times despite hurdles for foreign states suing in U.S. courts.[3]
Netanyahu Targets Times’ Misleading Gaza Photo
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused The New York Times of defamation during a Fox News interview on August 7.[2] The dispute centers on the Times’ July 24 front-page article titled “Young, Old and Sick Starve to Death in Gaza: ‘There Is Nothing.'” The story featured a photo of a young boy cradled by his mother, his spine visibly protruding, presented as evidence of starvation.[1][2] Netanyahu highlighted the image’s role in representing widespread child starvation amid Israel’s operations in Gaza.
Netanyahu stated the photo depicted a child with cerebral palsy, not starvation.[2] He criticized the Times for using it to symbolize “all these supposedly starving children.”[1][2] The Times later corrected the article, admitting the boy had a preexisting medical condition contributing to his appearance.[1][2] The correction noted the information came from the boy’s doctor after publication and would have been included beforehand.
Update: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alongside Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar have instructed legal advisers to file a libel lawsuit against The New York Times and Nicholas Kristof.
Netanyahu says the controversial op-ed defamed Israeli soldiers and "perpetuated a… https://t.co/xj0brQEvrM
— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) May 14, 2026
Times’ Correction Draws Sharp Criticism
Netanyahu dismissed the Times’ correction as insufficient.[2] He described it as “a denial the size of a postage stamp buried in the back pages,” contrasting it with the original front-page prominence.[1][2] The Times’ spokesperson responded to Fox News Digital, calling Netanyahu’s threat an “increasingly common playbook.”[1] The spokesperson insisted children in Gaza remain malnourished and starving, as documented by Times reporters.[2]
Legal analysis questions the correction’s adequacy.[3] The Times acknowledged lacking prior knowledge of the condition but failed to disclose it initially.[1][2] This omission fueled claims of reckless misrepresentation, especially given the photo’s emotional impact in a high-stakes conflict narrative.[3] Broader investigations revealed similar issues with other viral Gaza famine images, where subjects had significant health problems.[3]
Legal Challenges and Potential Implications
Netanyahu is exploring whether a country can sue The New York Times in U.S. courts.[2] American defamation law sets high bars, including the “actual malice” standard for public figures.[3] Law professor Richard Epstein argued the Times’ conduct appears egregious enough for a trier of fact to award substantial damages.[3] However, nations face barriers to bringing libel suits in the U.S.[3]
Trump’s second-term administration watches closely as media accountability battles intensify.[3] Conservative observers see parallels to past leftist media distortions eroding public trust, much like biased reporting on U.S. borders or energy policies.[2] A successful challenge could deter sensationalism, protecting truth amid globalist narratives that undermine allies like Israel.[1] No lawsuit filing has occurred yet, but Netanyahu’s stance signals resolve against perceived blood libels.[3]
Sources:
[1] Web – PM ‘looking into’ filing lawsuit against New York newspaper
[2] Web – Netanyahu threatens to sue New York Times over Gaza …
[3] Web – Does the State of Israel Have a Case Against The New …
