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Statement under oath by a
photographer of France 2 Television
The killing of the child Mohammed
al-Durrah by Israeli Occupying Forces was intentional and happened in cold
blood
The live film by the
photographer of the French TV France 2, Talal Abu Rahma, which showed the
shooting of the child Mohammed Jamal al-Durrah, 12 years old from Al-Boreij, and
his father by Israeli occupation forces, which resulted in his death and
the severe injury of his father, is one of the starkest examples of the
grave and blatant human rights violations of Israel against Palestinian civilians. The child and his father
were sheltered behind a
concrete block about 70cm high set against a wall. Despite the fact that the
child and his father were crying for help, Israeli soldiers continued to shoot at them and ultimately killed the child.
This incident constitutes
another crime added to the list of violations of international
humanitarian law committed by Israeli occupation forces. The dramatic scene
was broadcast around the world and watched by millions of people.
The Israeli government had therefore no choice but to investigate the incident.
As expected, the outcome of the investigation recalls past investigations of
crimes committed by Israeli occupation forces; the victim bears
responsibility even if it was indirect. The Israeli government does not
establish that Israeli Forces were responsible for the killing, and
therefore did not undertake any legal action against the perpetrator (s) of the
crime.
The following is a statement
under oath by Mr. Talal Abu Rahma, a photographer of the French TV France 2, to
the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights on October 3, 2000, giving details of
what he had seen:
“I, the undersigned, Talal
Hassan Abu Rahma, resident of the Gaza Strip and who bears ID no. 959852849,
give my statement under oath and after having been given legal warning and
choice by Lawyer Raji Sourani, on the killing of Mohammed Jamal al-Durrah and
the injuring of his father Jamal al-Durrah both shot at by the Israeli Occupying
Forces.
“I work as a correspondent for
the French TV France 2. On September 30, 2000, as part of my duties, I was at
Netzarim area from 7:00a.m reporting on the clashes. At noon, when I was about
to finish work and go back to the broadcasting studio, I heard intensive
shooting from all directions. At that moment, I was at the northern part of the
road leading to Al-Shohada’ Junction (Netzarim Junction). I was in a position
which enabled me to see and observe the Israeli military outpost at the
northwest of the junction, and the two Palestinian apartment buildings located
to the north of the junction. I could also see the outpost of the Palestinian
National Security Forces, located south of the junction, and another Palestinian
outpost 30m away, which was a temporary booth where members of Palestinian
forces were resting.
“Suddenly, intensive shooting
started across the road which is of 30m width. Shams Oudeh, Reuters photographer
caught my attention, as he was sitting besides a man and a child (Jamal and his
son Mohammed). They were all sheltering behind a concrete block. What the
journalist was observing attracted my attention. I was trying to focus on the
outpost of the Palestinian National Security Forces, from where shooting was
directed, and at which the Israeli army was shooting, during the first minutes.
Suddenly, I heard a cry of a child. Then, I focused my camera on the child
Mohammed Jamal al-Durrah who was shot in his right leg. His father tried to
calm, protect and cover his son with his hands and body. Sometimes, the father
Jamal was raising his hands asking for help. Other details of the incident are
as they were apparently shown at the film. I spent approximately 27 minutes
photographing the incident which took place for 45 minutes. After the father and
the child were evacuated by an ambulance to the hospital, I stayed 30-40
minutes. I could not leave the area, because all of those who were in the area,
including me, were being shot at and endangered.
“Shooting started first from
different sources, Israeli and Palestinian. It lasted for not more than 5
minutes. Then, it was quite clear for me that shooting was towards the child
Mohammed and his father from the opposite direction to them. Intensive and
intermittent shooting was directed at the two and the two outposts of the
Palestinian National Security Forces. The Palestinian outposts were not a source
of shooting, as shooting from inside these outposts had stopped after the first
five minutes, and the child and his father were not injured then. Injuring and
killing took place during the following 45 minutes.
“I can assert that shooting at
the child Mohammed and his father Jamal came from the above - mentioned Israeli
military outpost, as it was the only place from which shooting at the child and
his father was possible. So, by logic and nature, my long experience in covering
hot incidents and violent clashes, and my ability to distinguish sounds of
shooting, I can confirm that the child was intentionally and in cold blood shot
dead and his father injured by the Israeli army.
“On the following day of the
incident, I went to Shifa Hospital in Gaza, and interviewed the father of child
Mohammed Al-Durreh. The interview was videotaped and broadcast. In the
interview, I asked him about his reason and circumstances of being at the place
of the incident. I was the first journalist to interview him on this subject.
Mr. Jamal al-Durrah said that he was going accompanied by his son Mohammed to
the car market, which is about 2km away to the north of Al-Shohada’ Junction,
to buy a car. He told me that he failed to buy a car, so decided to
go home. He and his son took a taxi. When they got close to the junction, they
could not move forward because of the clashes and shooting there. So, they got
out of the taxi and tried to walk towards Al-Bureij. As shooting intensified,
they sheltered behind a concrete block. Then the incident occurred. Shooting
lasted for 45 minutes.
“I am a professional and
specialized journalist. I have worked in this field for many years. I am
committed to the principles of journalistic work, and to convey reality
indiscriminately, objectively and neutrally. This is why I am a distinguished
journalist. I have my own press office, and I work as a correspondent for the
French TV France 2. I work also for CNN through Al-Wataneya Press Office.
“I have hereby given my
testimony under oath and after being legally warned and granted the choice. I
swear that all the above – mentioned statement is right and consistent with
reality and law.”
Signature:
Talal Hassan Abu Rahma
Gaza, October 3, 2000
This statement was given before
me and in my presence, after giving legal warning and choice, and under oath.
Lawyer
Raji Sourani
Gaza, October 3, 2000
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