GHF Whistleblower - child claimed shot dead by IDF is alive

[CaramelPecan]

I posted this link on another thread but I think it needs one of it’s own

https://x.com/GHFUpdates/status/1963620678650806365

I remember seeing many posts about this, taking it as further demonstration of the evil of the IDF and how the GHF staff are murderers and it should be dismantled, despite the GHF refuting Aguilar’s claims immediately and providing evidence that he was fired.

Any comments from those posters now?

Where’s the evidence he’s alive? None has been provided. Meanwhile, nearly 20,000 Palestinian children have been killed, starved, or injured by Israeli attacks.

Why invent a story about one child when we already have documented mass suffering? Children have repeatedly been killed even while queuing for water- this isn’t a one-off, it’s a pattern. Go see the graphic images and reports for yourself. The images and reports are clear and verified.

Well, fancy that.

I remember the MN board being spammed for months with endless stories, many of which turned out to be false but were never retracted by the posters, who just kept spamming with more.

One was a video of a woman lamenting (I won't say what) and it was clearly orchestrated. I said I doubted its authenticity and kept being asked why. I felt a bit hesitant about responding because who knows how Hamas refines its social media strategy?

Was the video of him with his mother not enough evidence?

The ramifications of Hamas figuring out that he’s supposed to be dead, but he’s not, are chilling.

Did Aguilar consider that?

The story was invented to discredit GHF as working with the IDF to kill civilians when try to get aid from aid sites not controlled by Hamas.

It’s a pattern alright, of false propaganda.

Yes I think the video of him and his mother is absolutely enough evidence.

What a surprise. Just appalling isn't it.

I’m relieved that he is alive, if this report is true, and glad he is seemingly ‘safe and well’. Hopefully this can be confirmed by someone other than the alleged perpetrators of the crime.

Does this change my view on GHF? No. Specifically because my issue with them is far more than just the alleged increase in civilian injuries around aid hubs.

Is his mother any good? She’s in the video.

Or do you need it from Hamas?

The story is being reported in various media sources though none UK based so far. From Fox News:

Exclusive video reveals Gaza boy, said to be killed by IDF, is alive

In an exclusive interview with the boy whose real name was confirmed by the GHF to be Abdul Rahim Muhammad Hamden, but who goes by "Abboud," the 8-year-old and his mother answered questions provided by Fox News Digital through a GHF translator, in which the pair appeared excited ahead of their planned extraction from the Gaza Strip.

Abboud and his mother, whose name is Najlaa, were safely extracted from the Gaza Strip on Thursday, though the location has not been disclosed in this reporting for their protection.

"Outside the Gaza Strip is nice," Abboud said, according to a translation verified by Fox News Digital.

The story of Abboud went viral after a former GHF contractor, Anthony Aguilar, a 25-year veteran of the U.S. Army and retired Green Beret Lt. Col., said he saw the boy who he called "Amir" gunned down by IDF forces outside a GHF distribution site on May 28.

In his account, Aguilar showed images taken using his body camera footage of the boy approaching him and another contractor clutching bags of food.
Aguilar claimed that he and the boy had a touching moment where Abdul, whose nickname is Abboud, kissed his hand and then his face in apparent thanks for the food supplies.

The former Green Beret said that the boy then ran back to the group of other Palestinians who were shortly after forced to leave the aid site after pepper spray, tear gas and stun grenades were employed, he claimed in an interview with MSNBC.

Aguilar – who was employed as a contractor for UG Solutions, a subcontractor for GHF – then said he heard shots fired after the Palestinians had left, and upon reaching the scene, he found Abboud and others had been shot by the IDF.

In his accounts of the incident to multiple media outlets, as well as Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., on July 29, Aguilar claimed the killing happened first outside GHF aid site Secure Distribution Site-1 (SDS) before telling MSNBC on Aug. 2 that the shooting happened near SDS-2, and then telling Dialogue Works late last month the events occurred outside SDS-3.

The GHF, who terminated Aguilar’s contract in June, launched an investigation at the end of July to try and locate the identity of the boy and uncover what happened.

Through their investigation, which relied on speaking with local Palestinians, they eventually tracked down Abboud’s mother and her son.

The identities of Abboud, his mother and other relatives were verified by GHF by using facial recognition software that compared the images of the boy with those captured by Aguilar, along with biometric data shared with Fox News Digital.
In footage exclusively obtained by Fox News Digital, Abboud, is seen playfully interacting with a GHF representative after he first arrived at SDS-3 with his mother late last month

"We are overjoyed and deeply relieved that Abboud is safe, and that this story ends in hope," GHF Executive Chair Johnnie Moore said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "That outcome was never guaranteed and it’s thanks to the courage and persistence of our team of American heroes; veterans who never stopped working to find him and bring him to safety in the most complex environment imaginable."

Concern mounted as Aguilar’s story gained international attention that Hamas had a vested interest in ensuring that Abboud was not found, as it would discredit the claim that the GHF and the IDF had engaged in not only brutal but deadly behavior towards Palestinians.

"While this story ends happily, it could have ended in tragedy," Moore added. "Too many people, including in the press and civil society, were quick to spread unverified claims without asking the most basic questions.

"When a child’s life is at stake, facts must matter more than headlines," he added.

Abboud’s mother brought him to SDS 3 late last month under a heavy disguise, before the pair, along with four other male family members, including at least one who had been threatened by Hamas, were extracted from the Gaza Strip, a GHF representative involved in the operation confirmed to Fox News Digital.

https://www.foxnews.com/world/exclusive-video-reveals-gaza-boy-said-killed-idf-alive

I wouldn't expect this one story to change your views on the GHF @PinkBobby

I understand there are lot of issues around how they operate. I think though that it's good to be aware how much propaganda is being used in this war and that we need to take everything we read with a pinch of salt - as you did when hearing this story but did you take the original story with the same pinch of salt?

Maybe you did, I can't remember. But lots of people didn't question the original story because it matched their internal bias.

I read about the problems with this story on TheDailyWire a few weeks ago. Didn't like to post here as the source is highly Republican, I disagree with almost all of what they say, opinion wise.

Very glad to hear he's alive.

Tony Aguilar doing Hamas' dirty work for them.

Hope he's prosecuted in one way or another.

No evidence was provided he was dead either, was it? Apart from the word of an aggrieved ex employee. Yet you swallowed it no problem.

Yes if only hamas would release a statement then some on here would believe it! Maybe they're working on one now with their <checks notes> 'journalists'.

This is just a snapshot isn't it of all the tall tales that have been spouted in the media and many have lapped up.

I must admit, I didn’t pay a lot of weight on details of TA’s account as there seemed to be so much conflicting info about his reliability. I’ve always been more focused on GHF’s operating issues (as I think we’ve discussed before). I do believe the info that injuries/deaths have increased around humanitarian points since guns were introduced even if this specific story wasn’t real and I think arming humanitarian workers and making them both vulnerable and part of the problem is terrible .

I think the issue with the volume of propaganda/misinformation/lies now is really problematic for discussions - both ‘sides’ are more likely to disregard info or evidence from the other side. I am deeply suspicious of IDF and GHF info/updates just as I’m sure you’re suspicious of anti-Israel content. So on we debate!

Yes I agree re propaganda/misinformation/lies on both sides and how it makes it difficult for discussions.

Bless him 💗

"Outside the Gaza Strip is nice" must be the understatement of the century!

Thank you - not my favourite source (as I’m sure you understand!) but I appreciate the civilised approach of just providing an alternative source!

And there are people who think Gaza’s children are destined for extremism and beyond help. Amazing what some compassion and kindness can do.

There is no evidence he is either dead or alive or that any part of this story is true.

It doesn’t change the fact that the way the GHF operates, delivering aid through armed contractors, is immoral. It breaks all the fundamental principles of aid distribution. I would expect nothing more from this Israeli government but It’s deeply worrying that it is being funded by the US. It could be a turning point in how the US view humanitarian aid in war which could have horrifying consequences for other wars they get involved in.

The point is that despite the fact that there was never any evidence of his death, and despite the fact that TA was always an extremely unreliable witness, the pro pal lot lapped it up without a single critical thought.

Totally 100% agree with you on the GHF front though. It's an abomination. Israel should allow unlimited aid in asap. I don't even care if Hamas get it. Its an avoidable human catastrophe. And agree on ramifications for future crises.

Why do you think the GHF is an abomination?

Because people have been killed at their sites trying to get aid, and lots of people aren't getting enough aid.

I should clarify that its probably not the GHF thats an abomination. Perhaps they are good people doing their best. It's the aid situation in its entirety thats an abomination.

I cannot imagine the logistics of delivering aid to such a densely populated area in an active war zone. Of course I've no idea how this could be achieved, I'm definitely not qualified. But 4 sites to feed all these people? And the UN had more like 400? I'm not clear on all the numbers but I'm satisfied that broadly speaking nowhere near enough aid is getting in. I'm also uninterested as to whether or not theres official famine, or whether metrics of measurement have changed etc. I think lots of people who have nothing to do with what happened on 7 October are extremely hungry. Personally I dont care if Hamas gets aid from UN distribution sites. I understand others have other opinions on it, and thats fair enough. I say let the terrorists get some food too, if all the civilians of Gaza get what they need.

I also have an eye on future legal challenges of genocide- and I think restricting aid strengthens those accusations. It certainly looks a lot like collective punishment.

I agree that the workers risking their lives in a war zone are doing commendable work/their hearts are potentially in the right place but they shouldn’t be there if the UN isn’t there too: they cannot do such an important job properly and they shouldn’t be armed.

Going ahead with GHF when the UN refused to work with them was a terrible decision that wasn’t prioritising aid. Their total lack of experience and lack of network is having a disastrous effect on Palestinian people and it reflects terribly on them that they went ahead with the job when they couldn’t do it without the UN.

I agree, particularly- hopefully this can be confirmed by someone other than the alleged perpetrators of the crime 🙄

I hope it is true.

I find it curious why they expended so much energy on finding him and have now relocated him outside of Gaza and why his surname had changed from previous media reports.

It does look like him though so hopefully this is true.

But one example of a child reported as killed who actually isn't doesn't mean no children are being killed or shot - there are plenty of others credibly reported.

I recall from the initial thread highlighting Anthony Aguilas interview with Tucker Carlson - much of what Anthony is saying about GHF and why the operation set up is a war crime can be independently verified - lack if sites, evidence of shooting, etc.

No one is saying that finding this child alive in any way denies all the other children who have been killed in the war.

This whole issue is about propaganda not a child’s life. He was used for propaganda purposes which is why the GHF went to such lengths to find him and why he had to be relocated out of Gaza along with his family as Hamas would have wanted him dead rather than identified as alive & well.

I haven’t seen anything that would confirm for me that he is alive.