A Palestinian media outlet is facing ridicule after a picture it shared of a doctor coming to help in Gaza was in fact a TV medical drama star.

The Palestinian Information Center, which has almost 500,000 followers on Facebook, posted the photo on social media this morning with the caption: “A French doctor arrives in the Gaza strip to offer medical help to the wounded Palestinian protesters.”

But it was actually an image of actress Katherine Heigl as Dr Izzie Stevens on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, a role she played from 2005-2010.

Other Facebook users were quick to point out the false claim, with comments labelling the Gaza-based centre as “absolute morons” and asking whether the page had been hacked.

The organisation subsequently deleted the picture, calling it “a horrible mistake.”

“We wholeheartedly apologize to our friends and followers for the news item which included the picture of actress Katherine Heigl that described her as a French doctor,” the Palestinian Information Center then wrote. 

 “The post has since been deleted as we are committed to truth and credible news.”

Other uses subsequently replied with a pictures of actors they said were also “on their way” to the Gaza Strip, including Rex Harrison as Dr Dolittle and Sylvester Stallone’s John Rambo.

At least 16 Palestinians were killed in clashes on Gaza's border with Israel last Friday.