Photographs manipulated by Hamas? German investigation sparks controversy

The Süddeutsche Zeitung accuses the Islamist group of staging suffering in Gaza to influence world public opinion

Alongside the dramatic images that realistically document the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, there are also photographs that have been manipulated or staged by Hamas. This is according to an investigation by the Süddeutsche Zeitung, which claims that the Islamist group is strategically using suffering to influence international public perception.

The Bavarian daily acknowledges the existence of a serious food emergency in Gaza, but argues that numerous viral images — particularly those of emaciated children — do not accurately reflect the current situation. Some photos do not even come from Gaza, while others depict children suffering from chronic diseases unrelated to the conflict. In some cases, photographers allegedly asked people to pose as if they were waiting for a meal.

The war of images and the role of propaganda

According to the investigation, Hamas systematically disseminates images that serve its narrative: starving civilians, queues for aid, children in tears. ” Some of these photographs are authentic,“ writes the German newspaper, ”but at least some of them are taken out of context or staged.“ An expert interviewed by the newspaper pointed out that these are not always fake photos, but rather photos constructed to elicit an emotional response: ”They are often accompanied by misleading captions, chosen to evoke collective visual memories associated with hunger and war.”

Warning from German journalists: “Manipulation on the rise”

The issue has also raised alarm bells at the German Journalists’ Association (Djv), which has called on the media to monitor the origin and authenticity of images coming from the Strip. President Mika Beuster said: “All parties involved in the conflict — including the media and secret services — are using images as a strategic weapon to shape public perception.”

The hybrid war of visual information, often enhanced by artificial intelligence and deepfakes, was also reported to Adnkronos by David Puente, an expert on disinformation.

Bild accuses freelance photographer: “Artfully constructed scenes”

The Bild newspaper also raised doubts about the authenticity of some photographs, citing the case of freelance photographer Anas Zayed Fatiyeh. The man, who is very active on social media with anti-Israel messages, works for the Turkish state agency Anadolu, which is close to President Erdoğan and accused of supporting Hamas.

According to Bild, Fatiyeh staged scenes specifically for filming, which were then broadcast by international media outlets such as the BBC, CNN, and New York Magazine. The images showed chaos and hunger, but in some cases, they were orchestrated situations.

Stricter controls on the way

After the investigation was published, Bild contacted various international photo agencies, some of which promised to stop working with the photographer and introduce stricter controls. Finally, the German newspaper questions why international media outlets continue to use material of dubious neutrality: “Many images are openly ideological or staged. Why do they continue to pass them off as news?”

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(Photo: © AndKronos)