Emaciated Handala image goes viral amid Gaza famine crisis

A striking caricature of the iconic Palestinian figure Handala has gone viral on social media, depicting the child as gaunt and skeletal, a haunting symbol of the deepening starvation in the Gaza Strip.

Unlike the familiar image of Handala standing with his back turned and hands clasped behind him, the latest illustration portrays his emaciated frame ravaged by hunger, reflecting the harsh reality faced by Palestinians enduring severe blockade, food shortages, and a collapsing health system caused by 'Israel.'

The image’s creator remains unknown, but it has been widely shared online, especially amid mounting warnings from the UN and humanitarian organizations about a looming famine in Gaza.

Handala was created in 1969 by the late Palestinian cartoonist Naji al-Ali. The barefoot 10-year-old character became a powerful symbol of Palestinian resistance and steadfastness, always shown from behind as a gesture of protest.

Now, with Gaza gripped by hunger, the altered image of Handala echoes the cries of a population struggling to survive.