Palestinians bury Gaza journalist killed by Israeli fire
Hundreds of Palestinians participated in the funeral of a Gaza journalist who died after being shot by Israeli troops while covering a border protest.
Ahmed Abu Hussein, 24, died on Wednesday at an Israeli hospital, nearly two weeks after he was shot on April 13. Hussein was covering the weekly protests organised by Hamas, the group that controls Gaza.
Amateur video taken at the time shows him wearing a blue vest and helmet with the acronym “TV” on it. He appeared to be standing far from the Israeli border in a group of bystanders when he was shot.
The Gaza health ministry announced he had died after receiving treatment in Israel, information the Sheba hospital near Tel Aviv confirmed.
His body was transferred to Gaza for his funeral, health officials said.
Mr Hussein worked for Radio Shaab, a well-known radio station seen as close to the leftwing Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, as well as being a photographer for a local news agency. On Thursday, the Israeli military said “the circumstances regarding the injury of Ahmed Abu Hussein will be examined”.
The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate said it held the Israeli authorities “fully responsible for this crime” and called for prosecutions.
Hussein is the second journalist killed since protests broke out on March 30. Photographer Yasser Murtaja was killed on April 6 while covering the protests.
Hamas leaders and family members were waiting on Thursday at the Egyptian border for the body of a Hamasaffiliated scientist gunned down last week in Malaysia. The body of Fadi Al Batsh, an engineering lecturer in a Kuala Lumpur university, was expected to arrive later on Thursday.
Hamas, which accuses Israel of assassinating Mr Al Batsh, is to bury him on Friday at a ceremony led by Ismail Haniyeh, one of the group’s leaders.
Hussein is the second journalist killed since protests broke out on March 30. Yasser Murtaja was killed on April 6