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Media Under Spray Paint

Vandalism at New York Times HQ Following Gaza Report Clarification

Vandals spray-painted "NYT Lies, Gaza Dies" on The New York Times building following the newspaper's clarification of a controversial report about a malnourished Gaza child.

Spray vandalized NYT building

Unidentified individuals defaced the exterior of The New York Times headquarters in Manhattan on Wednesday, spraying the slogan "NYT Lies, Gaza Dies" across its wall. Additional parts of the building, including doors and windows, were covered in red spray paint. The perpetrators have not yet been identified.

The act of vandalism comes shortly after the newspaper issued a clarification regarding a recent article about a malnourished Palestinian toddler from Gaza, which had drawn widespread attention and sparked controversy online.

Last week, The New York Times published a story featuring one-and-a-half-year-old Mohammed al-Matouq, accompanied by a photo of the child being carried by his mother, appearing visibly emaciated. The original article implied that his condition was a result of the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip.

However, late Tuesday night, the newspaper released a clarification, stating that new information had emerged indicating the child had preexisting medical conditions.

"We recently reported on some of Gaza’s most vulnerable citizens, including 18-month-old Mohammed, who suffers from severe malnutrition. We have since received additional information, including from the hospital where he was treated and his medical records, and have updated our article to provide greater context regarding his prior health issues. These additional details offer readers a fuller understanding of his condition," the statement read.

Notably, the clarification was posted only on one of the newspaper’s secondary X (formerly Twitter) accounts, and not on its primary account followed by millions.

The original images of the toddler, showing a protruding spine and sunken features, went viral and were widely shared as evidence of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In response, a pro-Israel group circulated a photo of the child's older brother, appearing in good health, in an attempt to argue that the boy’s condition was not reflective of a broader famine in the Strip.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the act of vandalism at the NYT building.
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