Misleading image shared as Gaza martyr checking phone

Amid the devastating backdrop of Israel’s renewed assault on the besieged Palestinian enclave, which has claimed the lives of at least 200 children this week, a widely shared image has sparked debate. The photo shows what appears to be a child-sized body covered with a white sheet, resembling a shrouded corpse. However, the figure in the image can be seen using a mobile phone. Social media users have circulated the image with the caption: “It’s a miracle! One of Gaza’s martyrs checks messages on his phone!”

Fact Check

Our investigation found the claim to be misleading. A reverse image search traced the photograph back to Facebook posts from October 28, 2022—nearly a year before the current conflict. The images depict two children dressed in Halloween costumes.

Additionally, a Thai media report confirmed that Facebook user Surattana Sawadkit originally shared the picture, showing her two sons dressed as little ghosts for the Halloween Kids Fancy contest at Central Korat. After the competition, she posted an update stating that Nong Afei (the girl in black) won third prize, while Nong Aofong (the child in white) did not receive any award.

Conclusion

The widely shared image is unrelated to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and has been misrepresented. It actually originates from a Halloween costume contest in Thailand in 2022. The claim that it depicts a deceased child in Gaza using a mobile phone is false and misleading.