Israel says slain Gaza journalist was Hamas militant

JERUSALEM — Israel’s defence minister claimed Tuesday a wellknown Gaza journalist who was killed by Israeli gunfire over the weekend was a member of Hamas, an allegation denied by the Islamic militant group and the journalist’s family.

Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman provided no evidence to back up the claim.

Yasser Murtaja died from a gunshot wound while filming a mass demonstration near the fence with Israel on Friday, in an area engulfed in thick black smoke from Palestinians setting tires on fire.

Hamas has called for Palestinians to amass at the border as part of a weeks-long campaign of protests against a decade-old Israeli and Egyptian blockade of the territory. It also has suggested that it may attempt a mass border breach.

Murtaja was shot while carrying a video camera and wearing a flak jacket marked with the word “press.”

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Lieberman alleges Murtaja was a “terrorist” who had been on the Hamas payroll since 2011. He said Murtaja had used a drone to collect intelligence on Israeli forces along the border.

“This is a member of the military arm of Hamas who holds a rank parallel to that of captain, who was active in Hamas for many years,” Lieberman said. “Once again we see how Hamas uses the media, ambulances and patients, including cancer patients who are sent to hospitals in Israel,” to carry out “terrorist missions.”

Lieberman provided no evidence to support his allegations. Israel’s military said it is still investigating and was not able to confirm Lieberman’s claims.

Murtaja, 30, was the co-founder of Ain Media, a local TV production company that has done projects, including aerial drone filming, for foreign media clients such as the BBC and Al-Jazeera English.

Murtaja had been hired to begin work for the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), a major international aid organization. The group released footage showing what it described as his “last work.” He died two days before he was to start his new job.

The NRC’s secretary-general, Jan Egeland, called Murtaja’s death “heartbreaking,” and has called for accountability for “the shooting of an innocent civilian.”

In Gaza, Murtaja’s brother, Mutasem, angrily denied Lieberman’s claims.

“Yasser was filming the protests with simple cameras to show they are peaceful.”

Hamas’ leader, Ismail Haniyeh, attended the funeral in a sign of respect. But no gunmen were visible at the ceremony, as is common when members of militant groups are buried.

Hamas, a militant group sworn to Israel’s destruction, has called for the protests to continue until May 15, the anniversary of Israel’s founding, when Palestinians commemorate their displacement during the 1948 war over Israel’s creation.

Also Tuesday, Israel released the results of an investigation into video footage in which soldiers are heard cheering as a sniper shoots a Palestinian along the border.

The video, apparently taken from a sniper position, appears to show a soldier shooting a Palestinian near the fence. Other soldiers are heard cursing the man and then cheering when he falls.

It condemned the filming of the incident and the statements the soldiers made. It said the troops’ behaviour does not reflect the army’s values and they will be dealt with “accordingly,” without elaborating.