Fact Check: Viral Photo Showing Boy Celebrating Birthday In Gaza Next To His Destroyed House Is Old

An image showing a birthday celebration in Gaza is doing the rounds on social media. It filmed a kid marking his special day in the backdrop of war debris. People were seen wearing birthday hats and holding balloons to mark the occasion. However, the picture isn't from a recent birthday celebration but it dates back to 2021. Check photo below

Two years ago, on May 25, a boy named Mahmoud Sabih became a teenager and observed his birthday event next to the rubble of his former residence that collapsed during the Israel-Palestine war.

The old image has resurfaced on the internet. One must note that it has not been clicked in recent days despite going viral online this October. The heartwarming picture showed how the Sabih family and their friends held hope and smiled even during difficult times.

In May 2021, Israel announced a cease-fire to put an end to an 11-day-long conflict between the region and Hamas where both claimed victory. According to reports, many bodies were pulled from the war debris leading to a death toll of more than 200 people. Thousands were wounded during the attack in Gaza and the damage caused was said to take years for reconstruction.

In 2023, the Israel-Hamas war escalated. Earlier this October, Israel declared war against the Palestinian militant groups led by Hamas. "Israel is at war...Hamas will understand that by attacking us, they have made a mistake," Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu said in a recent statement.