AFP Covers Up Gaza Border Infiltration

By: Tamar Sternthal October 27, 2019
Multiple Agence France Presse photo captions last week concealed that Palestinian Imad Shahin was attempting to cross the Gaza Strip border into Israel when Israeli troops fatally shot him. According to the inaccurate APF captions, Imad Shahin, 17, of Gaza “reportedly died of his injuries sustained during a protest on the Gaza border fence last year.” Shahin did not die during a “protest,” but as he reportedly attempted to infiltrate into Israel. According to B’Tselem, an organization highly critical of Israeli actions in the region:
‘Imad Khalil Ibrahim Shahin

17 years old, resident of a-Nuseirat Camp, Deir al-Balah District, injured on 03 Nov 2018 in al-Maghazi R.C, Deir al-Balah District, by live ammunition, and died on 04 Nov 2018. Did not participate in hostilities. Additional information: Shot and wounded by soldiers when trying to breach the fence with an axe together with two friends, one of whom was also carrying an axe. The other was wounded by shrapnel. Evacuated to a hospital in Israel where he died of his wounds.

The Palestine News Network acknowledges that Shahin was fatally injured “after he crossed the separation fence east of the central province for a few meters.” On Nov. 4, the Maan News Agency reported:
One Palestinian was shot and critically injured, on late Saturday, after he allegedly crossed the security border fence with Israel along the borders of the besieged Gaza Strip.
The Israeli army issued a statement in which it confirmed that a Palestinian was shot and injured after crossing the security border fence with Israel.
 A sampling of the inaccurate captions follows.

Relatives of 17-year-old Imad Shahin, mourn during his funeral in al-Nusirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on October 23, 2019. Shahin, who’s body was released by Israel reportedly died of his injuries sustained during a protest on the Gaza border fence last year. MAHMUD HAMS / AFP

A relative of 17-year-old Imad Shahin, mourns during his funeral in al-Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on October 23, 2019. Shahin, who’s body was released by Israel reportedly died of his injuries sustained during a protest on the Gaza border fence last year. MAHMUD HAMS / AFP

A relative of 17-year-old Imad Shahin, mourns during his funeral in al-Nusirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on October 23, 2019. Shahin, who’s body was released by Israel reportedly died of his injuries sustained during a protest on the Gaza border fence last year. MAHMUD HAMS / AFP

CAMERA calls on AFP to amend the captions to make clear that Shahin was reportedly attempting to cross the border when he was fatally injured.

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