In a stunning turn of events, a young Gazan boy, once reported as a tragic casualty of conflict, has been discovered alive, defying the narratives spun by agenda-driven voices, Fox News reported on Friday.
Abdul Rahim Muhammad Hamden, an 8-year-old nicknamed "Abboud," was thought to have been killed by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in May 2025, but was found hiding with his mother, Najlaa, and safely extracted from the Gaza Strip on September 4, 2025, thanks to the tireless efforts of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
The story began with a heartbreaking claim from Anthony Aguilar, a former GHF contractor and retired Green Beret Lt. Col., who alleged he witnessed Abboud—whom he called "Amir"—gunned down by IDF forces on May 28, 2025, outside a distribution site.
Aguilar’s account, backed by personal smartphone images of Abboud approaching him with food bags, painted a vivid picture of innocence lost, even describing a tender moment where the boy kissed his hand in gratitude.
Yet, Aguilar’s story wavered, with conflicting reports on the location of the alleged shooting—first outside Secure Distribution Site-1, then near Site-2, and finally Site-3—raising eyebrows about the reliability of his claims.
While progressive outlets ran with the unverified narrative, GHF wisely terminated Aguilar’s contract in June 2025 and launched their own investigation by late July, determined to uncover the truth behind the boy’s fate.
Through interviews with local Palestinians and cutting-edge facial recognition software, GHF confirmed Abboud’s identity, proving that facts, not emotionally charged headlines, must guide such sensitive stories.
After weeks of searching, Abboud and Najlaa emerged at GHF Secure Distribution Site-3 on August 23, 2025, under heavy disguise, a testament to the dangers they faced in simply surviving.
Concerns lingered that certain factions, including Hamas, had a vested interest in keeping Abboud hidden to perpetuate claims of brutality against GHF and IDF, a reminder of how geopolitics often trumps individual lives.
Exclusive footage obtained by Fox News Digital captures Abboud playfully engaging with a GHF representative after arriving at the site, a heartwarming scene that counters the grim tales previously told.
"Outside the Gaza Strip is nice," Abboud said, a simple statement that carries profound relief after months of fear, as verified by Fox News Digital’s translation.
His mother, Najlaa, echoed this sentiment with, "My wish for my son's future is that he be at ease," a humble hope that cuts through the noise of political posturing.
On September 4, 2025, GHF successfully extracted Abboud, Najlaa, and four other family members—some of whom faced direct threats from Hamas—moving them to an undisclosed location for their safety.
GHF Executive Chair Johnnie Moore captured the bittersweet victory, stating, "We are overjoyed and deeply relieved that Abboud is safe, and that this story ends in hope," while rightly critiquing those who rushed to judgment with, "Too many people, including in the press and civil society, were quick to spread unverified claims."
Moore’s words sting with truth: in a world obsessed with viral outrage, the rush to condemn often buries the hard work of uncovering reality, especially when a child’s life hangs in the balance.
