📢 Major Announcement: We have incredible news to share.
The young Gazan boy falsely identified as “Amir” by former UG contractor Tony Aguilar is alive and safe.
His real name is Abdul Rahim Muhammad Hamden – “Abood” as his family calls him – and after weeks of high-risk work by the GHF team, he and his mother are now safe.
Let’s get into the story: 🧵
The young Gazan boy falsely identified as “Amir” by former UG contractor Tony Aguilar is alive and safe.
His real name is Abdul Rahim Muhammad Hamden – “Abood” as his family calls him – and after weeks of high-risk work by the GHF team, he and his mother are now safe.
Let’s get into the story: 🧵
Several weeks ago, Aguilar, a disgruntled former contractor, fabricated a lie that Abood, whom he called “Amir,” was killed outside a GHF site.
He said the boy kissed his hand and thanked him, and that these were his final words. As recently as August 23, Mr. Aguilar further embellished the story, saying Amir was shot in the torso, in the leg, and that he watched him die.
Aguilar spread this story across global media, endangering the boy with sensitive details that put them in the crosshairs of Hamas.
He said the boy kissed his hand and thanked him, and that these were his final words. As recently as August 23, Mr. Aguilar further embellished the story, saying Amir was shot in the torso, in the leg, and that he watched him die.
Aguilar spread this story across global media, endangering the boy with sensitive details that put them in the crosshairs of Hamas.
Because of Aguilar’s reckless lies, GHF launched a careful, high-risk search.
Our team was able to quietly trace Abood’s family.
By relying on the deep trust built with the community through our daily aid delivery, we found Abood and his biological mother. We verified his identity through a variety of means, including biometrics and the shirt Abood wore the day Aguilar claims he died.
Our team was able to quietly trace Abood’s family.
By relying on the deep trust built with the community through our daily aid delivery, we found Abood and his biological mother. We verified his identity through a variety of means, including biometrics and the shirt Abood wore the day Aguilar claims he died.
What followed was a high-stakes, multinational diplomatic effort. We are grateful to the U.S. Embassy in Israel, and to other countries in the region for their close coordination with GHF over the past week to make this rescue possible.
Abood is alive. He is safe.
Abood is alive. He is safe.
This child is alive because of quiet, determined work by people who choose service over spotlight.
But make no mistake, this boy’s life was put in danger by one man’s reckless lies and a media ecosystem that failed its most basic test.
But make no mistake, this boy’s life was put in danger by one man’s reckless lies and a media ecosystem that failed its most basic test.
Imagine the kind of person who would endanger a child’s life for 15 minutes of fame. That’s what Tony Aguilar did. And the outlets, influencers, and individuals that gave him a platform, even after GHF and several journalists interested in the truth provided clear, contradicting facts, share in that responsibility.
From day one, there were verifiable facts that were ignored: the wrong location Aguilar cited, the circumstances of his termination, his own text messages, the counter-testimony from his colleagues, and his constantly changing stories. None of it stopped the headlines.
Every one of them owes Abood, and the public, a retraction.
From day one, there were verifiable facts that were ignored: the wrong location Aguilar cited, the circumstances of his termination, his own text messages, the counter-testimony from his colleagues, and his constantly changing stories. None of it stopped the headlines.
Every one of them owes Abood, and the public, a retraction.
Today, we’re celebrating Abood’s safety, and preparing for tomorrow’s aid delivery.
Read our press release: ghf.org/announcement-g…
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