The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) has been widely criticised for releasing a video in which footage of killed Palestinian medic Razan al-Najjar has been edited in order to portray her as “not an angel”.
The 21-year-old was shot in the chest by an IDF sniper during protests on the Gaza-Israel border on 1 June as she attended wounded protesters.
On Thursday several Israeli government and army officials tweeted the video – named “Hamas’ use of human shields must stop” – which shows part of an interview Ms Najjar gave with Lebanese al Mayeen TV where she says she was acting as a “human shield”.
In the full clip, however, the young woman goes on to say she was present at the protests to “save the wounded at the front lines”. She does not mention Hamas, the militant group which controls the Gaza Strip.
Her death has become something of a rallying cry for Palestinians, who have named her “the Angel of Mercy”. In footage that has emerged since, she can be seen throwing a tear gas canister away from people lying on the ground.
“Razan al Najjar is not the angel of mercy that Hamas propaganda attempts to portray,” the IDF’s Arabic language spokesperson Avichay Edraee wrote on Twitter.
“Her admission that she is a ‘human shield’ for the inciting rioters proves how Hamas uses the entire Gaza population as ammunition for its aims and for Iran's aims.
“Do medical personnel around the world throw bombs and participate in disturbances and call themselves human shields?“
The video has been fiercely criticised by Palestinians and rights activists as an attempt to justify Ms Najjar’s death.
“The IDF always accuses Palestinians and Israeli human rights orgs of editing documentation of it human rights abuses. But it edited this video of Razan al Najjar to discredit her after murdering her. Absolutely despicable and hypocritical,” Israeli-American writer Mairav Zonszein said on Twitter.
The IDF did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem – in pictures 37 show all Gazans protest as US embassy moves to Jerusalem – in pictures 1/37 Palestinian mourners carry the dead body of Mukhtar Ebu Hamas, 25, killed by Israeli forces in Gaza on 14 May Getty 2/37 A Palestinian woman flashes a victory sign during a protest near the border fence AFP/Getty 3/37 Israeli soldiers guard on top of a watch tower along the Israel-Gaza border AP 4/37 Palestinian demonstrators react to fired tear gas Reuters 5/37 Palestinian demonstrators run for cover Reuters 6/37 US President's daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Senior White House Advisor Jared Kushner arrive for the controversial inauguration of the US embassy in Jerusalem. The United States moved its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem after months of global outcry, Palestinian anger and exuberant praise from Israelis over President Donald Trump's decision tossing aside decades of precedent. AFP/Getty 7/37 Palestinians carry a demonstrator injured during clashes AFP/Getty 8/37 US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman speaks during the dedication ceremony of the new US embassy in Jerusalem Reuters 9/37 A Palestinian man walks in the smoke billowing from burning tyres AFP/Getty 10/37 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waves as he arrives ahead of the dedication ceremony of the new US embassy in Jerusalem. Reuters 11/37 Palestinian protesters lying on the floor during clashes Rex 12/37 Palestinian protesters burn tires AP 13/37 Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his wife Sara, Senior White House Advisor Jared Kushner, US President's daughter Ivanka Trump, US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and US ambassador to Israel David Friedman attend the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem. AFP/Getty 14/37 A Palestinian man assists a wounded protestor AFP/Getty 15/37 A Palestinian man holding his national flag walks in the smoke billowing from burning tyres AFP/Getty 16/37 US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Ivanka Trump unveil an inauguration plaque during the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem AFP/Getty 17/37 Palestinians carry a protester injured AFP/Getty 18/37 Ivanka Trump and US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin stand next to the dedication plaque at the US embassy in Jerusalem Reuters 19/37 A Palestinian demonstrator uses a sling to hurl stones at Israeli troops during a protest against U.S. embassy Reuters 20/37 A female Palestinian demonstrator stands amidst smoke Reuters 21/37 Ivanka Trump attends the opening ceremony of the new US embassy in Jerusalem AP 22/37 Palestinian medics and protesters evacuate a wounded protester AP 23/37 An Israeli soldier aims his weapon at Palestinian demonstrators Reuters 24/37 Gazans carry an injured protestor Rex 25/37 Protestors gather to demonstrate Reuters 26/37 An Israeli soldier fires tear gas at demonstrators Reuters 27/37 A Palestinian demonstrator poses with a slingshot Reuters 28/37 Protestors carry tires Reuters 29/37 A demonstrator kicks a burning tire Reuters 30/37 Palestinians congregate prior to their demonstration against the US moving their embassy to Jerusalem Reuters 31/37 Female Palestinian demonstrators react to tear gas fired by Israeli troops Reuters 32/37 A Palestinian demonstrator reacts Reuters 33/37 A Palestinian man throws leaflets dropped by the Israeli military during a protest against the US embassy move to Jerusalem and ahead of the 70th anniversary of Nakba, at the Israel-Gaza border, east of Gaza City Reuters 34/37 A boy holds a Palestinian flag as he stands amidst smoke Reuters 35/37 A Palestinian demonstrator tries to put out a fire caused by objects dropped from Israeli drones during a protest against the US embassy move to Jerusalem and ahead of the 70th anniversary of Nakba, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip Reuters 36/37 A Palestinian demonstrator with a slingshot REUTERS 37/37 Protesters look up at falling tear gas cannisters dropped by an Israeli drone AFP/Getty
Gaza has been rocked by two months of protests over the Strip’s dire living conditions and the Palestinian right of return, during which Israeli sniper fire has killed at least 121 people. Up to 13,000 have been injured by live fire and tear gas.
The violence – the deadliest for Gazans since the end of the 2014 war with Israel – culminated on 23 May, when the US officially inaugurated its new embassy to Israel in the contested city of Jerusalem.
Israeli officials say the blame for high human cost of the protests lies with Hamas, which it says encourages demonstrations as cover for planned attacks on Israeli soldiers.
On Friday, three people died and at least 383 were injured during the weekly holy day protest as Israeli troops resumed the use of tear gas and live bullets to disperse protesters.
Friday also marks Al Quds Day, an annual day of support for an independent Palestine and opposition to Zionism held on the last Friday of Ramadan.
The tradition, which began in the Islamic Republic of Iran, is usually observed with rallies in Muslim countries around the world.
Alternative_Duck on June 9th, 2018 at 13:34 UTC »
In the future, edits will become more sophisticated and it will be nearly impossible to determine that anything was altered at all.
SphmrSlmp on June 9th, 2018 at 13:09 UTC »
Okay, help me understand this. Even if she is a human shield...
Shouldn't human shields make it difficult for the opposing side to attack? Kinda like a hostage situation. So Israel should be like, "Okay, they have human shields, so we need to consider a new strategy."
But instead, Israel is like,
"Oh, are those human shields?"
shoots a human shield
"Welp, too bad, for the human shield then."
¯_(ツ)_/¯
rokhana on June 9th, 2018 at 12:00 UTC »
Better article from Buzzfeed News:
Pretty disgusting.