Gazan boy alive after ex-GHF whistleblower falsely claimed IDF killed him

A Gazan boy described as Abdul Rahim Muhammad Hamden, eight years old and known as Abboud, was found alive with his mother after weeks of questions prompted by a former Gaza Humanitarian Foundation contractor who claimed IDF killed him. The boy and his mother had been at the center of a dispute following a May 28 incident that some described as a killing outside a GHF aid site.

The boy, his mother Najlaa, and others appeared at a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Secure Distribution Site 3 on Aug 23, 2025, in heavy disguises as part of an internal verification process. The location of their extraction from the Gaza Strip was not disclosed for security reasons. The foundation said an extensive internal operation began in late July to verify the boy’s identity and to examine conflicting accounts of the May 28 incident.

Anthony Aguilar, a former GHF contractor and veteran of the U S Army, had described a 10-year-old boy he called Amir being killed after leaving a GHF aid site on May 28. He told multiple outlets an emotional encounter in which the boy kissed his hand and thanked workers for supplies such as rice and lentils. Subsequent footage provided by Aguilar, and later obtained by Fox News Digital, did not show the specific interaction he described, and GHF officials said some details did not align with the visible record.

The GHF contested Aguilar’s account, noting that the footage did not corroborate the claimed encounter and that some of his timeline placed the incident at SDS 1 or SDS 2, while the operation was at SDS 3 or not yet in operation on May 28. In late July and into August, news outlets reported a range of versions of the event. NBC and other networks carried updates after Chris Hayes referenced the resolution of the case.

GHF officials said identity verification relied on biometric data and documentary evidence. They said Abboud’s identity was confirmed through facial recognition matched to images taken at the SDS 3 site, as well as the father’s death certificate, and through scars on the boy’s body that matched the earlier photographs. The foundation described these steps as part of its internal review and said the identity of Abboud and Najlaa was established before their extraction.

Najlaa and Abboud were brought to safety with several male relatives whose identities were kept confidential for security reasons after the family faced threats from Hamas amid rising tensions around the case. GHF officials said the extraction team worked with local authorities and Palestinian families to complete the operation.

In interviews, Aguilar said he hoped the boy remained alive and claimed he had seen Palestinians killed near the SDS exit. He said restrictions on UG Solutions personnel prevented him from fully verifying the death claim and asserted that his observations were accurate even if some details were not.

UG Solutions counsel David Panzer confirmed Aguilar’s contract ended June 13, 2025, for poor performance and conflicts with staff, and said Aguilar had since tried to reinsert himself with the company. Panzer characterized his public statements as a calculated attempt to create a narrative unfavorable to UG Solutions.

Chapin Fay, the GHF spokesperson, called Aguilar’s claims false during a July press conference and described him as a disgruntled former employee. Fox News Digital has learned that Aguilar’s text messages with a GHF official included threats should he be returned to work.

The case highlights the difficulty of humanitarian operations in Gaza amid war and misinformation. While Abboud and his mother are alive and safe, the initial death claim remains unconfirmed by independent observers, and the GHF continues to protect the identities of those involved while continuing its humanitarian work.