The United States remains Israel's primary ally, but support for the Jewish state is waning. This decline is evident as major news outlets publish images of children in Gaza suffering from starvation, a consequence of Israel's military response to Hamas's attack on October 7. However, many of these images have been scrutinized and found to depict children with pre-existing health conditions rather than starvation.

Daniel W. Drezner, a professor at Tufts University, noted in a recent article that the political climate has shifted against Israel. He stated, "the political tide has turned against Israel," attributing part of this shift to the widespread circulation of images showing starving children in Gaza. A Gallup poll from late July indicated that only 32 percent of Americans support Israel's military actions, a drop of 10 points from the previous year, marking the lowest level of support recorded.

Despite acknowledging the disproportionate criticism Israel faces, Drezner did not address the fact that many images of starving children have been misrepresented. An investigation by The Free Press revealed that the children in these photographs were already suffering from serious health issues unrelated to the conflict. For instance, a photo of Muhammad Zakariya Ayyoub al-Matouq was later clarified by The New York Times, which noted he had pre-existing health problems affecting his development.

Other media outlets, including the AP and CNN, have also published images of children with chronic conditions such as cystic fibrosis and cerebral palsy. Critics argue that the media's portrayal of these images contributes to a misleading narrative about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. A report from the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) and Rutgers University cautioned that journalists have often relied on information from the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry without sufficient verification, leading to a skewed public perception of the situation.

The NCRI report highlighted instances of potential journalistic malpractice, stating that many images of alleged famine victims were misrepresented. The report emphasized that these individuals often had long-standing medical conditions, which were omitted in Western media reports. This pattern of misrepresentation, the authors argue, has distorted the portrayal of humanitarian conditions in Gaza, misleading policymakers and the public.

Hamas has been known to exploit the suffering of its own people for political gain. In a June 2024 analysis, it was revealed that Yahya Sinwar, a key figure in Hamas, viewed the suffering of Gazans as a strategic tool against Israel. He was quoted saying, "We make the headlines only with blood … No blood, no news."

While the suffering in Gaza is undeniable, the conflict was initiated by Hamas, which has used its population as human shields. Critics argue that the media often shifts blame away from Hamas, focusing instead on Israel and the U.S. for the humanitarian crisis. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), established as an alternative to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), has faced challenges in delivering aid due to the UN's refusal to collaborate with it.

Despite offers from the GHF to deliver humanitarian aid, over 800 truckloads of supplies remain undelivered in Gaza, largely unreported by media outlets that emphasize blame on Israel and the U.S. for the ongoing crisis. This narrative shift may contribute to the declining support for Israel among the American public.