Netanyahu’s Legal Threat Against The New York Times

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed his intention to potentially sue The New York Times for defamation. This comes after the newspaper published a front-page photo of an emaciated child in Gaza, which was later acknowledged as misleading. During an exclusive interview with Fox News’ Bill Hemmer, Netanyahu stated, “I’m actually looking at whether a country can sue The New York Times, and I’m looking into it right now, because I think it’s such clear defamation.” The controversy centers around a Times article titled “Young, Old and Sick Starve to Death in Gaza: ‘There Is Nothing,’” which aimed to highlight the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. However, the photo used depicted a child with a preexisting medical condition, not related to starvation.

The New York Times’ Correction and Netanyahu’s Response

Following the publication of the article, The New York Times issued a correction acknowledging that the child in the photo had a preexisting medical condition that contributed to his appearance. The correction stated that had this information been known prior to publication, it would have been included in both the article and the caption. Despite this correction, Netanyahu criticized its placement and size, describing it as “a denial the size of a postage stamp buried in the back pages.”

Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

While Netanyahu has voiced his dissatisfaction with the newspaper’s reporting, international organizations continue to warn about the dire situation in Gaza. UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Ted Chaiban highlighted that malnutrition has reached famine levels due to prolonged conflict and blockades. Despite acknowledging the suffering in Gaza, Netanyahu attributes much of the crisis to Hamas, accusing them of exacerbating conditions by looting aid shipments.

Netanyahu’s Policy Shift on Gaza Control

In addition to addressing media coverage, Netanyahu confirmed his intention to regain full control over the Gaza Strip. This marks a significant policy shift for Israel, which withdrew from the territory nearly two decades ago. Netanyahu emphasized his desire to end suffering by ending Hamas rule.