Palestinian protester in iconic Gaza photo wounded by Israeli sniper

Palestinian protester in iconic Gaza photo wounded by Israeli sniper
Aed Abu Amro, whose iconic photo became a symbol of Palestinian resistance, was shot by Israeli forces during protests in Gaza.
2 min read
07 November, 2018
The iconic image went viral [Getty]
A protester whose iconic photo became a symbol of Palestinian resistance against Israeli oppression has been shot during demonstrations in the besieged Gaza Strip.

Aed Abu Amro, 20, was photographed last month during a protest in Gaza carrying a Palestinian flag in one hand and waving a slingshot over his head.

Captured by photojournalist Mustafa Hassona, the image of the bare-chested Palestinian went viral online and was compared to Eugene Delacroix's famous painting of the 1830 Paris uprising – Liberty Leading the People.

Others likened the striking image to the biblical story of a struggle between David and Goliath.

Abu Amro was reportedly shot in the leg by an Israeli sniper during a demonstration in the Gaza Strip on Monday.

Photos shared by activists and journalists on social media show him being carried away on a stretcher by medics while holding the Palestinian flag and making the sign of peace.

At least 10 other Palestinian protesters were shot during the demonstration, medics said.

Palestinians in Gaza have been protesting weekly since March to demand the end of Israel's crippling decade-long siege of the coastal territory.

The mass demonstrations have also demanded the right of return for Palestinian refugees to the homes and land which their descendants were forcibly expelled from or fled during the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation.

Since the protests began, Israel has killed over 220 Palestinians in Gaza. Tens of thousands more have been injured by Israeli snipers, tanks, and drones which have opened fire on the demonstrations.

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