Young Gazan Boy Found Alive After Being Reported Killed by IDF
In a heartwarming turn of events, an 8-year-old Gazan boy named Abdul Rahim Muhammad Hamden, known as “Abboud,” has been found alive and well after previously being reported as killed by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in May. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has confirmed that Abboud and his mother Najlaa were safely extracted from the Gaza Strip on Thursday to an undisclosed location for their protection. Speaking through a GHF translator, the young boy expressed his joy at being outside Gaza, simply stating, “Outside the Gaza Strip is nice.” This positive outcome stands in stark contrast to the harrowing story that had been circulating internationally for months about his alleged death.
The story of Abboud’s supposed death gained worldwide attention after Anthony Aguilar, a former GHF contractor and retired Green Beret Lt. Col., claimed to have witnessed the boy being shot by IDF forces. According to Aguilar’s account, which he shared with multiple media outlets and even Senator Chris Van Hollen, he had interacted with the child at a GHF distribution site where Abboud had approached him seeking food. Aguilar described a touching moment where the boy kissed his hand and face in gratitude before running back toward other Palestinians. Aguilar then claimed that after the Palestinians were forced to leave the area following the use of tear gas and stun grenades, he heard gunshots and later found Abboud dead from gunshot wounds to his torso and leg. However, inconsistencies began to emerge in Aguilar’s story, as he provided different locations for the alleged incident in different interviews.
Prompted by these concerning claims, the GHF, which had terminated Aguilar’s contract in June, launched an investigation in late July to determine the truth. Through careful work with local Palestinians, they managed to track down Abboud and his mother, confirming their identities through facial recognition software that compared the boy with images captured in Aguilar’s footage, along with biometric data. Footage obtained exclusively by Fox News Digital showed Abboud playfully interacting with a GHF representative after arriving at a distribution site with his mother late last month. The discovery that Abboud was alive came as a tremendous relief to those involved in the search, though concerns had mounted that Hamas might have an interest in preventing the boy from being found, as his reappearance would discredit claims about brutal behavior by the GHF and IDF toward Palestinians.
GHF Executive Chair Johnnie Moore expressed both joy and concern about the situation, stating, “We are overjoyed and deeply relieved that Abboud is safe, and that this story ends in hope. That outcome was never guaranteed and it’s thanks to the courage and persistence of our team of American heroes; veterans who never stopped working to find him and bring him to safety in the most complex environment imaginable.” Moore also criticized how quickly unverified claims had spread through the press and civil society without basic fact-checking, emphasizing that “When a child’s life is at stake, facts must matter more than headlines.” The situation highlighted the dangers of misinformation in conflict zones and how quickly such stories can gain international traction without proper verification.
The extraction operation itself was fraught with risk. Abboud’s mother brought him to a GHF distribution site late last month under heavy disguise before the pair, along with four other male family members (at least one of whom had reportedly been threatened by Hamas), were extracted from Gaza. A GHF representative involved in the operation confirmed these details but emphasized that for security reasons, they would not be disclosing the family’s current whereabouts. GHF spokesman Chapman Fay expressed confidence that the family was “on their way to a new life,” suggesting a permanent relocation away from the dangers they faced in Gaza.
For Abboud and his mother, this marks the beginning of a new chapter after enduring significant hardship. When asked about her wishes for her son’s future, Najlaa simply said she wanted him to be “at ease,” adding, “My son and I suffered a lot. But we thank God. I thank everyone who helped me and stood by me.” Their story, which could have ended in tragedy based on the false reports of Abboud’s death, instead concludes with hope for a safer future. The case serves as a powerful reminder of the human impact of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where families like Abboud’s face daily challenges to their safety and well-being, yet also demonstrates how humanitarian efforts can make a meaningful difference in individual lives amid broader regional turmoil.
