Yaser Murtaja: Difference between revisions
Documented with a notable source as requested. What was he living off, it certainly was not photojournalism |
K.e.coffman (talk | contribs) Reverted to revision 835468233 by E.M.Gregory (talk): Revert further back due to BLP concerns - please wait for better sources to insert unsubstantiated allegations. (TW) |
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'''Yaser Murtaja''' ({{lang-ar|ياسر مرتجى}},<ref>{{cite web|title=ياسر مرتجى.. أول صحفي شهيد بمسيرات العودة|url=http://www.aljazeera.net/news/humanrights/2018/4/7/%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%AA%D8%AC%D9%89-%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%B5%D8%AD%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B4%D9%87%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D8%A8%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A9|publisher=Al Jazeera|date=7 April 2017|accessdate=7 April 2017|language=Arabic}}</ref> 1987/1988 - April 6, 2018<ref name=bbc>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43683184|title=Israel to investigate killing of Palestinian journalist|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=7 April 2018|accessdate=8 April 2018}}</ref>) was |
'''Yaser Murtaja''' ({{lang-ar|ياسر مرتجى}},<ref>{{cite web|title=ياسر مرتجى.. أول صحفي شهيد بمسيرات العودة|url=http://www.aljazeera.net/news/humanrights/2018/4/7/%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%B1-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%AA%D8%AC%D9%89-%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%84-%D8%B5%D8%AD%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B4%D9%87%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D8%A8%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A9|publisher=Al Jazeera|date=7 April 2017|accessdate=7 April 2017|language=Arabic}}</ref> 1987/1988 - April 6, 2018<ref name=bbc>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-43683184|title=Israel to investigate killing of Palestinian journalist|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=7 April 2018|accessdate=8 April 2018}}</ref>) was a [[Palestinian people|Palestinian]] video journalist and photographer from the [[Gaza Strip]]. He was killed by Israeli security forces during the [[2018 Gaza border protests]]. Murtaja was the co-founder of Ain Media Production Company.<ref name="scmp">{{cite web|title=Well-known Palestinian journalist Yasser Murtaja dies as Israel border clash escalates|url=http://www.scmp.com/news/world/middle-east/article/2140723/well-known-palestinian-journalist-yasser-murtaja-dies-israel|website=scmp.com|publisher=Associated Press|accessdate=7 April 2018}}</ref> Ain Media has produced work for Al Jazeera, BBC, VICE, among several other media companies.<ref name="palestine">{{cite web|title=Palestinian Journalist Yaser Murtaja Killed by Israel Sniper on Gaza Border|url=https://www.palestinechronicle.com/journalist-shot-abdomen-israel-sniper-gaza-border/|publisher=Palestinian Chronicle|accessdate=7 April 2018}}</ref> Murtaja was one of the first to bring a drone camera into Gaza, a territory with no airport or skyscrapers.<ref name=national/> |
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==Career== |
==Career== |
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Murtaja's dreams of traveling were a recurrent theme in his photography and social media posts.<ref name=gaza>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/yaser-murtaja-dreams-travelling-180407125419357.html|title=Yaser Murtaja, and his dreams of travelling|website=www.aljazeera.com|access-date=7 April 2018}}</ref> In March 2018, under a photo of Gaza's port, Murtaja wrote: "I hope the day that I can take this image when I am in the sky instead of on the ground will come! My name is Yaser, I am 30 years old, live in Gaza City and I have never travelled before in my life!"<ref name=gaza/> He once briefly crossed into Egypt, but was turned around hours later because of security reasons in the Sinai.<ref name=gaza/> His colleague and friend Hana Awad said he was granted an [[Al Jazeera]] scholarship for training in [[Doha]]. She described him as not at all interested in politics.<ref name=cbs>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gaza-buries-journalist-killed-while-covering-mass-protests-israel-border/|title=Gaza buries journalist killed while covering mass protests|agency=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=[[CBS News]]|date=7 April 2018|accessdate=8 April 2018}}</ref> |
Murtaja's dreams of traveling were a recurrent theme in his photography and social media posts.<ref name=gaza>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/yaser-murtaja-dreams-travelling-180407125419357.html|title=Yaser Murtaja, and his dreams of travelling|website=www.aljazeera.com|access-date=7 April 2018}}</ref> In March 2018, under a photo of Gaza's port, Murtaja wrote: "I hope the day that I can take this image when I am in the sky instead of on the ground will come! My name is Yaser, I am 30 years old, live in Gaza City and I have never travelled before in my life!"<ref name=gaza/> He once briefly crossed into Egypt, but was turned around hours later because of security reasons in the Sinai.<ref name=gaza/> His colleague and friend Hana Awad said he was granted an [[Al Jazeera]] scholarship for training in [[Doha]]. She described him as not at all interested in politics.<ref name=cbs>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gaza-buries-journalist-killed-while-covering-mass-protests-israel-border/|title=Gaza buries journalist killed while covering mass protests|agency=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=[[CBS News]]|date=7 April 2018|accessdate=8 April 2018}}</ref> |
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Israeli Defense Minister [[Avigdor Lieberman]] described Murjata as a member of Hamas. Lieberman provided no evidence to substantiate his claim, and the group, as well as Murtaja's family, denied the allegation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com|title=Israel says slain Gaza journalist was Hamas militant|work=[[The Washington Post]]|date=10 April 2018|accessdate=10 April 2018}}</ref> |
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==Death== |
==Death== |
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Revision as of 02:22, 11 April 2018
An editor has nominated this article for deletion. You are welcome to participate in the deletion discussion, which will decide whether or not to retain it. |
Yaser Murtaja (Arabic: ياسر مرتجى,[1] 1987/1988 - April 6, 2018[2]) was a Palestinian video journalist and photographer from the Gaza Strip. He was killed by Israeli security forces during the 2018 Gaza border protests. Murtaja was the co-founder of Ain Media Production Company.[3] Ain Media has produced work for Al Jazeera, BBC, VICE, among several other media companies.[4] Murtaja was one of the first to bring a drone camera into Gaza, a territory with no airport or skyscrapers.[5]
Career
Murtaja's journalism focused on covering life in Gaza, covering the Blockade of the Gaza Strip and the Gaza–Israel conflict. He was known for his work on Al Jazeera's "Gaza: Surviving Shujayea".[6] The documentary covers Bisan Daher after she survived an Israeli attack on Gaza's Shujayea neighborhood that killed six members of her family.[7] Murtaja struck up a close friendship with Bisan to help her cope with the trauma.[6]
Murtaja worked as an assistant cameraman on the documentary film, Human Flow.[1][8][9] He was also a leading videographer for Weiwei's Journey of Laziz, which was exhibited The Israel Museum, in Jerusalem.[8]
Murtaja also worked with filmmaker Alsharif on "Ouroboros," a film about life in Gaza which premiered at the Locarno Festival in 2017.[10] Murtaja worked in the world of film with minimal institutional support and without a formal cinematic education.[10]
Murtaja's dreams of traveling were a recurrent theme in his photography and social media posts.[6] In March 2018, under a photo of Gaza's port, Murtaja wrote: "I hope the day that I can take this image when I am in the sky instead of on the ground will come! My name is Yaser, I am 30 years old, live in Gaza City and I have never travelled before in my life!"[6] He once briefly crossed into Egypt, but was turned around hours later because of security reasons in the Sinai.[6] His colleague and friend Hana Awad said he was granted an Al Jazeera scholarship for training in Doha. She described him as not at all interested in politics.[11]
Death
Murtaja was covering the "The Great March of Return" that resulted in the 2018 Gaza border protests.[4] During the protests on 6 April, he was taking pictures of the demonstrators near the border at Khan Younis. Some of the protestors were lighting tires on fire, engulfing the area in thick black smoke. While he was over 100 metres (330 ft) from the border, wearing a flak jacket marked "press", he was shot in an exposed area just below the armpit.[11] Murtaja was with Rushdi Serraj, a photographer and colleague of Murtaja's, when he was shot. Serraj recounted: "Suddenly, he shouts, 'I'm injured, I'm injured, my stomach.'"[8] According to the Palestinian health ministry, Murtaja was shot in the stomach by an Israeli sniper.
On that day, nine other Palestinians were killed, 1,350 were injured, and 25 were in critical condition; and that approximately 400 of those injured were hit by live ammunition.[12][13] The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported it had treated 700 injuries on 6 April, including 320 from live fire.[12] According to the Palestinian journalist syndicate, seven other Palestinian journalists were injured by the Israelis during that day's protest.[13]
Investigation
The Israeli army announced in a statement on the Israeli Ynetnews website that the "circumstances in which journalists were hit, allegedly by IDF fire, are unknown to us and are being examined."[2]
The Foreign Press Association in Israel and the Palestinian territories called on the Israeli army to conduct a fast and open investigation, and to show restraint in areas where journalists work.[14]
Reactions
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Secretary-General Christophe Deloire condemned Israel's disproportionate response to the protests and called for an independent investigation into the incident.[15]
The European Union responded, Friday's violence “raises serious questions about the proportionate use of force which must be addressed.”[5]
Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh said: “The Return March is a battle of truth and awareness. Yasser held his camera to direct the arrows of truth to convey the image of the besieged people.”[5]
The Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate said in a statement that it held Israel “fully accountable for this crime.” [16] It also said that seven other reporters were injured in the April 6 protest, in what they described as "deliberate crimes committed by the Israeli army".[13]
Zionist Union Minister of the Israeli Knesset Zouheir Bahloul asked that the person who shot Murtaja be put on trial.[17]
Israeli government
The Israeli Defence Force issued the following statement: "“The IDF uses means such as warnings, riot dispersal means, and as a last resort firing live rounds in a precise, measured way. The IDF does not intentionally fire on journalists. The circumstances in which journalists were hit, allegedly by IDF fire, are unknown to us and are being examined."[15][5]
Israel's Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman suggested Murtaja had flown a drone above soldiers when he was shot. He also suggested that Hamas men had dressed up as journalists. He said: "You don't know who is a photographer and who is not. Whoever employs drones above Israeli soldiers needs to understand he is endangering himself."[18][8]
Funeral
Hundred of colleagues and friends attended his funeral in Gaza City. His body was covered with a Palestinian flag and his press jacket laid on the stretcher as it was carried through the streets of Gaza City. The drone he had used for shooting footage of Gaza filmed his funeral.[5]
Personal life
Murtaja was married and had one child.[6]
References
- ^ "ياسر مرتجى.. أول صحفي شهيد بمسيرات العودة" (in Arabic). Al Jazeera. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
- ^ a b "Israel to investigate killing of Palestinian journalist". BBC. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ "Well-known Palestinian journalist Yasser Murtaja dies as Israel border clash escalates". scmp.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Palestinian Journalist Yaser Murtaja Killed by Israel Sniper on Gaza Border". Palestinian Chronicle. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- ^ a b c d e "Hundreds attend well-known Palestinian journalist's funeral amid Gaza protests". National Post. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f "Yaser Murtaja, and his dreams of travelling". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- ^ "Gaza: Surviving Shujayea". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Palestinian Journalist Fatally Shot While Covering Gaza Protest". NPR.org. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ Morris, Loveday (7 April 2018). "He was wearing a vest marked 'PRESS.' He was shot dead covering a protest in Gaza". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Ai Weiwei's 'Human Flow' assistant cameraman shot dead by Israeli military". Screen. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Gaza buries journalist killed while covering mass protests". CBS News. Associated Press. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ a b "OCHA Flash Update: For the second Friday in succession, multiple Palestinian casualties during demonstrations at the perimeter fence in the Gaza Strip". ReliefWeb. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ a b c "Palestinian journalist dies after being shot by Israeli forces". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- ^ Daniel Estrin (7 April 2018). "Palestinian Journalist Fatally Shot While Covering Gaza Protest". NPR. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
- ^ a b "Hundreds attend funeral of 'assassinated' Palestinian journalist". Ynetnews. 4 July 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
- ^ http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2018/04/07/557710/Palestinian-journalist-dies-of-wounds-from-Gaza-border-clashes
- ^ http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/MK-demands-soldier-who-killed-Gaza-photographer-be-put-on-trial-549184
- ^ "Israeli Defense Chief: Anyone Who Flies Drones Over IDF Soldiers Puts Himself at Risk". Haaretz. 8 April 2018.