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 the Gaza martyrs checks messages on his phone!”

A viral social media image showing a person wrapped in a white shroud, resembling a burial cloth, sitting on an orange cushion while using a mobile phone. The image is captioned, 'It's a miracle! One of Gaza’s martyrs checks messages on his phone!' and is being circulated online with claims of staged events. The post, originally shared by a verified account, suggests controversy and misinformation. The background includes yellow chairs and a metal structure, indicating an indoor or tented setting. The image has sparked discussions on digital manipulation and media bias."

This description ensures clarity for accessibility while also optimizing for search engines with relevant keywords like "viral social media image," "Gaza martyr hoax," "misinformation," and "staged event claims. — Link

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.

A collage of social media screenshots featuring a viral image originally posted on October 29, 2022, by a user named Surattana Sawadkit. The post showcases children dressed in creative Halloween costumes, including one child wrapped in a white shroud resembling a corpse, holding a mobile phone while sitting on an orange cushion. Another costume mimics a framed funeral portrait. The post includes hashtags such as #Halloween, #ThaiCostumes, and #FancyDress. The viral image, which was later misrepresented online with false claims, originally depicted a fun and harmless costume event. The background of the image features yellow chairs and a public event space. The post received significant engagement, with over 25,000 reactions, 4.9K comments, and 20K shares, fueling discussions around media misinformation and viral hoaxes. — Link

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.

A screenshot from a Thailand-based media outlet, Tnews, covering a viral Halloween costume event in a shopping mall in Korat, Thailand. The image features two children dressed in ghost-themed costumes—one wrapped in a white shroud resembling a corpse, holding a mobile phone while sitting on an orange cushion, and another dressed as a framed funeral portrait. The accompanying article headline reads: 'Little kids create a legend of terror in the middle of a shopping mall. They come in pairs. It's not a big job, is it, mom?' The post highlights how the creative costumes went viral, sparking online discussions.

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.