Ok, I'm going to be honest here:—I don't like seeing dead bodies more than anyone else. The entire concept leaves me extremely uneasy. However, there are some issues with this particular photograph that I think ought to be addressed.
A Relative carries the body of Rajaa Abu Shaban, into Shifa hospital in Gaza City, Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2006. An Israel air strike against Islamic militants in Gaza City on Wednesday killed three people, including 5-year-old Rajaa Abu Shaban, and wounded two more, Palestinian officials and witnesses said. The Israeli army said its forces attacked a 'terrorist training camp' in Gaza, but gave no further details. (AP photo/Adel Hana)
Ok, first thing:—”We're once again told that the Israeli army "said its forces" attacked a "terrorist training camp" (in quotes), and even worse, "gave no further details" upon being questioned by the High And Mighty Media.
Well, let's consider some things, based on the evidence in the photo alone. First and foremost, this poor man is being trailed by a video camera. But look in the background, and to his right! What do we see?
Well, it would appear that the gentleman in question is surrounded by men with guns. As the whole party has the appearance of being "together" in this shoot, it's tough to tell, but if the heavily-armed men walking along with this poor fellow arrived with him, the only assumption I'd have left to go by is that they came from a terrorist training camp.
After all, they seem too heavily armed to be monks, don't they?
Oh, one more question:—”We're supposed to question what the IDF says, because, well, they're Israel. On the other hand, we're told as a statement of fact that the girl in the picture is named Rajaa Abu Shaban, and that she's carried by an unnamed relative.
If the press was so concerned about her that they got her name, why were they unable to determine this man's relationship to her? Why were they unquestionably told that he was a relative, and satisfied NOT to be given his name, yet on the other hand, refuse to accept the simplest statements made by the IDF?
This photo stinks to high heaven!
Update 14:31 EST: Here's another photo from the same sequence, hot off the wire. Did the girl get passed off from the man in the background, to the man who's currently running? It sure looks that way to me!
A Relative carries the body of Rajaa Abu Shaban, into Shifa hospital in Gaza City, Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2006. An Israel air strike against Islamic militants in Gaza City on Wednesday killed three people, including 5-year-old girl Rajaa Abu Shaban, and wounded two more, Palestinian officials and witnesses said. The Israeli army said its forces attacked a 'terrorist training camp' in Gaza, but gave no further details. (AP photo/Adel Hana)
UPDATE 10-AUG-2006 17:01 EST: LGF has pointed out that the news wire has indicated that the girl did not die as a result of Israeli bombs, as was previously stated, but had instead died of a head injury while playing on the playround.
I'm still not sure that is plausible. That is a lot of blood for a head injury. If this was a terrorist training camp, as Israel had indicated, is it not possible that she was killed in a weapons accident?
Tags: adel hana fauxtography AP #Israel/Lebanon War 2006
Comments:
#1 Dee McClanahan 10-Aug-2006
Sure does seem like the person who is bloody coming out of the car in the second photo is not very emotional. If the person who initially grabbed up the girl to carry her to the hospital was family then this man in the brown shirt must be family. Then why isn't he emotional. Why did brown shirt transfer the girl to this other man who seems to be grimmacing about this duty. He's not crying in utter misery. This is a great catch. Of course, it was the "palestinians" that perfected using the media for propaganda.
#2 Brian 10-Aug-2006
Yeah, there's definitely something wrong here. I'm not about to question how tragic it is to lose one's child, but that second photo raises more questions than answers. Unfortunately, I somehow doubt we'll ever get to hear the true story behind these photos...
#3 RyanH 10-Aug-2006
Head injuries cause a tremendous amount of blood. I do not think you have a argument there.
Well done on the initial find.
I do not understand whay the story was retracted though if the only evidence was a few guns.
Well hav't we bocome sceptics
Well done on the initial find.
I do not understand whay the story was retracted though if the only evidence was a few guns.
Well hav't we bocome sceptics
#4 Brian 10-Aug-2006
Thanks for the compliment.. I think. :)
Do head injuries [i]from falling from a swing[/i] usually cause that level of bleeding? I'm still somewhat doubtful. The fact that it was [i]reported[/i] that she was "playing near" an area identified by Israel as being a "terrorist camp" (a claim the reporter wants us to question, but is most likely true) means that it's [b]more[/b] likely that she was accidentally hit by a weapons discharge. [b]That[/b] is a more likely explanation for that amount of blood loss to me.
Either way, I'm not sure there's any rational way to explain the second photo. Why transfer her body from one person (emotionless) to another (very emotional)? I'd understand it if it were her father showing so much emotion while carrying her in, but if he cared so much, then why'd he give her to someone else?
Do head injuries [i]from falling from a swing[/i] usually cause that level of bleeding? I'm still somewhat doubtful. The fact that it was [i]reported[/i] that she was "playing near" an area identified by Israel as being a "terrorist camp" (a claim the reporter wants us to question, but is most likely true) means that it's [b]more[/b] likely that she was accidentally hit by a weapons discharge. [b]That[/b] is a more likely explanation for that amount of blood loss to me.
Either way, I'm not sure there's any rational way to explain the second photo. Why transfer her body from one person (emotionless) to another (very emotional)? I'd understand it if it were her father showing so much emotion while carrying her in, but if he cared so much, then why'd he give her to someone else?
