Shooting caught on video

This was published 10 years ago

Shooting caught on video

JERUSALEM: The Israeli human rights group B'Tselem has released video footage that purports to show an unarmed Palestinian protester in Gaza being shot by an Israeli soldier.

Ahmad Sliman Salem Dib, 19, later died from gunshot wounds at Gaza City's Shifaa Hospital.

In video footage of the incident filmed by B'Tselem's Gaza field research officer, Muhammad Sabah, a group of Palestinian and foreign protesters can be seen on Wednesday walking east of Gaza City, towards the double wire fence that separates the Gaza Strip from Israel.

Israeli security forces have declared a 300-metre ''no go'' zone inside the fence for fear of attempts by Palestinian militants to launch attacks on Israel.

The protesters reach a distance of a few dozen metres from the border, facing an Israeli military post. A soldier is seen near the post, observing events. None of the protesters appear armed.


Some members of the crowd are seen throwing stones at the Israeli military post and several fires appear to have been lit.

Then there is the sound of a single gunshot. Mr Dib is then seen being evacuated to receive medical treatment.

B'Tselem acknowledges that the video footage of the incident posted on the internet was edited for brevity, but says no relevant footage was cut.

The organisation says it is in no doubt that the shot was fired by Israeli security forces.

In response to questions posed by the Herald, the Israeli Defence Forces Spokesperson Unit refused to confirm or deny whether any shot was fired, or who might have been responsible.

''The matter is currently being investigated by the IDF Southern Command,'' the IDF said in a statement released to the Herald.

''The area adjacent to the security fence is considered a combat zone and the presence of terrorist elements in the area endangers the citizens of the state of Israel as well as the security forces operating in the area.

''Terror organisations have, in the past, launched terror attacks under the cover of demonstrations they staged in the area.''

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