The Ghost of Snapped Shot

... this way comes. Without any prior warning from the photo wires, we're treated to a series of photographs of a funeral procession for a ten-year-old girl, reported to have been killed by a rubber bullet fired by IDF soldiers. But, as with many reports originating from the region, the lines are somewhat unclear. For instance, the first story I see about it is from yesterday, even though the event was reported by the photo wires to have happened on Tuesday. To make matters worse, there are only a handful of stories about it, at the time of this writing, it being worth only 8 stories. (And yes, I tried alternate searches as well.)

What really stinks to high heaven about this story, though, is a fact that none of these reports conveys: Much like their anti-war counterparts here in the United States, not a single one of these anti-"Apartheid" wall protests happens without being covered by any number of photographers. So why is it that after a girl is injured at such a protest, is there not a single photograph of her on the wires from the protest itself? Surely, the photographers would've noticed such a young girl being treated brutally, and would have proceeded to take hundreds of sympathetic pictures!

I mean, it's possible to explain it away by suggesting that the IDF confiscated film from every photographer on-site, but based on the photographic coverage we've seen from that area over the past 6 years, do you really think that's what's going on? Perhaps it was the Palestinians who confiscated the film, but really -- wouldn't that have merited at least a story about the event?

Finally, check out the professionally-printed "funeral" photograph on the gravesite. One doesn't usually find such detail, mere days after a little girl's life is abruptly ended--that is, unless one is intent on trying to score a very cynical political point.

There's definitely something very wrong with this story. I'll be keeping an eye on things to see what kind of reaction it gets in the international press. Keep reading below the fold for the handful of photos on the wire about this so far.

Update: The story is gaining traction, being featured on the front page of the "moderate" English-language Palestine Times.

Not to be too conspiratorial, but do y'all think there's any chance that the Palestinian government (or rather, a group of Palestinians, be it Fatah or Hamas) did this? It seems to be an awfully efficient way to try and re-direct some of the current fratricidal violence in the region back to the "evil Zionists," doesn't it?

Update: The more I see the "posterized" memorial photograph of this girl, the more convinced I am that this is heartless propaganda. The IDF has opened an investigation into her death, so we'll just have to wait and see what the truth is. I'm still scanning the wires, though, so we'll see if there are any pictures of the actual protest.

CAMERA reports some details on this case, including the blockbuster, "Police sources said on Sunday that autopsy findings indicated Aramin could have been killed by concussion from a shock grenade or by a thrown rock. However, they said, the findings were inconsistent with her having been killed by a rubber bullet: No bullet wounds were found on her body, and the skull injury that caused her death was a large one, whereas rubber bullets, even if they do not penetrate, usually make small wounds."

With that, I think I finally have enough of a story to cross-post this over at NewsBusters. Fair NB readers, I hope that you will not be disappointed by my work so far!

 Tags: ammar awad kevin frayer muhammed muheisen AP REUTERS #Intifada

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Comments:

#1 captainfish 21-Jan-2007

Guess they don't need International Aid money since they can afford the nice clothes they are wearing and the fancy posters. Those things are not cheap, especially when done on a rush job.

From the look of the photos, it looks like they took a circuitous route to get to the cemetary. I don't know, I still like the way we Americans conduct our funeral services..... reserved and retrospective. And some even talk of love, peace and forgiveness. Guess that would be too much to ask for over there.