AFP photographer shot as Israel kills more Gaza protesters

AFP photographer shot as Israel kills more Gaza protesters
Mohammed Abed al-Baba, who has worked for AFP in Gaza since 2000, said he was shot in the leg while wearing a clearly identified press vest and helmet.
2 min read
09 June, 2018
Mohammed Abed al-Baba was shot while wearing a clearly identified press vest. [Getty]
An AFP photographer was shot in the leg as Israeli troops opened fire on Palestinian demonstrators along the Gaza border on Friday, the health ministry and the journalist said.

Mohammed Abed al-Baba, who has worked for AFP in Gaza since 2000, said he was shot in the leg while wearing a clearly identified press vest and helmet around 200 metres from the border east of Jabalia in northern Gaza.

Health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said Baba was wounded by Israeli fire.

The bullet hit him below the knee, with his condition not life threatening, medics said.

Three Palestinians, among them a 15-year-old, were killed by Israeli fire elsewhere along the border as thousands demonstrated, the health ministry added.

At least 120 Palestinians were injured by live fire.

Minor clashes were underway east of Jabalia when Abed was shot and he said he was trying to photograph a wounded protester.

He was taken to the Al-Awda Hospital in northern Gaza for treatment, where a doctor said he would undergo surgery to stabilise a bone.

The Israeli army did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Abed.

Abed has been working for AFP in Gaza since 2000, covering three wars between Israel and Hamas.

He has won multiple awards.

Since widespread protests broke out along the Gaza border on 30 March, Baba has been covering them daily - with his photos widely used across the globe.

At least 128 Palestinians have been killed since the protests. No Israelis have died.

Israel maintains a crippling blockade of Gaza it says is necessary to isolate Hamas.

Critics say it amount to collective punishment of the territory's two million residents.