In Harm’s Way: Cameraman Films Own Death
April 17, 2008 10:44 by BackSpin Editor
Reuters cameraman Fadel Shana (pictured) unexpectedly filmed his own death while covering fighting between Israelis forces and Palestinian gunmen in Gaza. We extend our condolences to Shana’s family and Reuters on this unfortunate tragedy.
Reuters top editor, David Schlesinger, called for an IDF inquiry into the incident. He also acknowledged in a memo:
We know, of course, that journalism is a dangerous business. We know, of course, that we rush into danger when others rush away. We know, of course, that accidents happen.
Although Shana’s vehicle was clearly marked as TV, Palestinian terrorists have abused press markings to launch attacks, such as last June.
To what extent are journalists in combat zones culpable for putting themselves in harm’s way? Post your comments below.
Paul
1:25 pm
Apr 17, 2008
I read that this “brave journalist” was filming Israeli tank movements.
Enough said
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Michael
4:01 pm
Apr 17, 2008
If they are killed by the IDF then they are culpable for putting themselves in harms way, if they are killed by Palestinians they are the innocent victims of brutal killers with no respect for the freedom of the press.
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Amit
1:25 am
Apr 18, 2008
No Michael, if they are killed by the IDF it’s probably an accident (from a distance, a TV camera may look like an Anti-tank missile launcher). If they are killed by Palestinians they probably filmed or said something they shouldn’t have…
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Russ Brown
11:14 pm
Apr 18, 2008
It was sad to see and very emotional, along with all the footage of civilian casualities and human grief shown with it. However, we have seen Hamas call civilian women to surround militants houses when the IDF have teleponed to warn they are going to bomb. So Hamas do not believe Israel intentionally target civilians despite the fact they try and push this narrative in the media, while trying to kill as many Jewish civilians as their rockets are capable of themselves. Fortunately, at this time, it is not many, although the intent is there.
I would also be interested to know if from the tanks position the TV truck could be clearly seen? Or any nearby civilians? Also, what was the IDF perception of what they were seeing? Also, what is the pereception of Palestinian camera men in the IDF? Many are said to be Hamas members and how would filming troop or tank movements by a Palestinian be seen in the context of possible intelligence resulting in a ambush and killing of Israeli soldiers earlier in the day? Reuters employed journalists did seem to be part of the Hezbollah propaganda war many believe in doctoring photos quite recently. Remember, Clinton bombed and killed 20 Belgrade jouralists for this reasoon.
Also, are the arab Palestinian territories so saturated with camera men that such events are so much more likely to be captured on film and used to distort the context? In an emotional way? In such a way that could get Israel singled out and the context ignored while much greater attrocities and injustices in the world get ignored as there are no journalists covering them?
I hope the IDF do an investigation and Israel puts as much effort as possible in the context of the troubles, to avoid killing innocent civilians and does not give the anti semetic propagandists the narrative they are trying to push that Jews kill the innocent on purpose. When those pushing this narrative are the biggest hypocrites of them all.
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Robert
3:48 pm
Apr 20, 2008
Another Palestinian Pallywood”. Reuters Palestinian journalists are simply liars involved up to their neck in terrorism.
For Hamas using the cover of Reuters.
In such opertaions, the observer/spotter is clear danger to troops, and must be a priority target.
No wonder the Palestinians are mourning him as a shahid.
If you want to film the troops ASK PERMISSION otherwise don’t be surprised if your “journalism” ends like this.
For Reuters using shrapnel against civilians of Sderot is “legitimate resistance”, whereas use of any type of shrapnel trying to prevent it, is certainly a “war crime”.
This is his Eulogy by Islamic Jihad terror group.
The Palestinian Arab press is calling this journalist a “shahid”. As Palestine Press Agency writes (autotranslated):
The Palestine Press News Agency’s workers gave heartfelt condolences of the family of journalist preferred hideous, photographer for the Reuters news agency …”[We] lost today a steady fighter was always designed to expose the crimes of occupation against the Palestinian people.”
The Palestine Press News Agency sends condolences to the family of the martyr she prays to God that the soul of martyr and give his family patience and solace.
The circumstances of the death remain unclear. His fellow journalist claims that “There was nobody around us except a group of children who we were going to film. There were no resistance groups in the area,” which seems unlikely that on a day with this much fighting that the “journalists” would be trying to videotape children away from the action.
But what is clear is that Palestinian Arabs know that Reuters is their best friend, and that Reuters journalists are more valuable to their cause than any number of terrorists.
UPDATE: Islamic Jihad eulogized him this way (autotranslated from Palestine Today):
As we bled to aspens eye martyr preferred hideous journalist, who has spent his life to the service of our people and expose the crimes of the enemy attacks and to renew the Covenant and with the Al-Bay `ah God that this blood is fuel Jerusalem crimes and the enemy will not pass without a painful punishment, God willing.
Please see Elders of Zion analysis:
http://elderofziyon.blogspot.com/2008/04/palestinian-arabs-mourn-reuters.html
Also:
http://littlegreenfootballs.com/article/29653_Reuters_Cameraman_Killed_in_Gaza_Visits_from_Reuters_Spike
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Anat
7:11 pm
Apr 20, 2008
Something is wrong with this video:
The tanks are filmed from a high viewpoint, clearly above the tree tops. How could this film have been taken from the site of the hit vehicle, at ground level among the trees?
Also, in the first stills of the same incident the car is NOT on fire. See here:
http://www.theaugeanstables.com/2008/04/17/opinions-please-is-this-pallywood-is-this-demopathy/#comments
I sense pallywood.
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deegee
1:56 pm
Apr 23, 2008
Just out of interest I superimposed a photographer with a shoulder mounted camera (ironically the late Fadel Shana) and soldiers with shoulder mounted missiles, at the same scale.
http://thumbsnap.com/v/ElM1iP8m.jpg
I defy anyone to distinguish between the two in real time at a kilometer distance.
Further according to the photograph http://thumbsnap.com/v/hOOime4i.jpg the ‘TV’ sign is on the bonnet and parallel to the road surface. It is almost illegible from what I estimate to be 50 meters and would not have been seen from the tank. Incidentally, the photograph confirms Anat’s assertion that the vehicle was not set alight until some time after the incident.
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Felipe
6:19 pm
Apr 23, 2008
Interesting: Palestinians don’t act accidentally. Should I take this comment as a RACIST one?
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