A Gaza-based photographer, Anas Zayed Fteiha, has denied accusations that he staged images depicting hunger in Gaza or that he is affiliated with Hamas. The allegations, first published by German newspapers, led two major wire services to stop using his work and fueled claims by Israeli officials and activists that reports of famine in Gaza are fabricated. Fteiha defended his work on social media, insisting his photos are authentic and that he is not connected to any political group. The controversy highlights ongoing debates about the reliability of images coming out of Gaza, especially as foreign journalists have limited access and local photographers are the main source of visual reporting from the enclave. Independent fact-checkers have also questioned the validity of the accusations against Fteiha, providing evidence that supports the authenticity of his photos.