IAF Airstrike Hits Reuters Armored Car
Air strike hurts two journalists in Gaza: doctors.
GAZA (Reuters) - Two journalists were wounded by an Israeli air strike that hit a Reuters vehicle in Gaza City on Saturday, doctors and residents said.
One of the journalists, who worked for a local media organization, was seriously wounded. A cameraman working for Reuters was lightly wounded in the air strike, the doctors said. The army was checking the report.
Witnesses said the missile struck the Reuters armoured car despite the fact that it was clearly labeled as a media vehicle, with signs on all sides, including the roof.
Sabbah Hmaida, who works for a local news Web site, was seriously wounded in the legs. Fadel Shana, a Reuters cameraman, was lightly wounded in the blast.
A Google search for “Sabbah Hmaida” turns up nothing. I’d like to know which “local news web site” she works for. Oddly enough, Reuters doesn’t mention its name in this article.
UPDATE at 8/26/06 3:39:36 pm:
The Associated Press report refers to the “local news web site” only as “an Arabic network:” Witnesses: Israel strikes Reuters car.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Two missiles fired by Israeli aircraft early Sunday morning hit an armored car belonging to the Reuters news agency, moderately wounding two television cameramen and three bystanders, Palestinian witnesses and hospital officials said.
The Israeli army said it was checking the report.
According to witnesses, a Reuters cameraman and a freelance cameraman working for an Arabic network were standing outside the vehicle in the Shajaiyeh neighborhood of Gaza filming a nearby Israeli raid when the missiles hit the car.
UPDATE at 8/26/06 4:27:01 pm:
Allahpundit has video from Fox: Israeli airstrike on Reuters SUV? (Update: Video added).
UPDATE at 8/26/06 4:34:09 pm:
Agence France Presse finally identifies the “local news web site:” Two TV journalists wounded by Israeli missile in Gaza.
GAZA CITY (AFP) - Two Palestinian television cameramen were seriously wounded by a missile fired overnight by an Israeli helicopter in eastern Gaza City, hospital officials said.
Fadel Shanaa of Reuters TV and a cameraman from the Palestinian Media Group were wounded when the missile struck their armored jeep.
The “local news web site” URL seems to be palmedia.ps, but it currently leads to a “suspended service” page: a7lashbab.com/suspended.page.
I detect the scent of fish.
UPDATE at 8/26/06 6:53:45 pm:
The Bangkok Post says Sabah Hemeida (note different spelling) works for … Dubai TV: Israeli shrapnel wounds cameramen. (Hat tip: Dan Riehl.)
Gaza (dpa) - Five Palestinians including a Reuters Television cameraman and another photographer for Dubai Television were wounded before dawn Sunday by rocket fire from Israeli aircraft, witnesses and medics said.
Shrapnel from two missiles struck two cars including a Reuters’ vehicle.
Palestinian security sources and eyewitnesses said that several Israeli army tanks and armoured vehicles rolled into eastern Gaza City, backed by Israeli helicopters and reconnaissance drones.
The eyewitnesses said that the two camera operators were in a Reuters jeep heading to the area to cover the Israeli Army incursion into eastern Gaza City. They said that an Israeli helicopter fired two missiles at people gathering in the Sheja’eya neighbourhood in eastern Gaza City as the Reuters’ car drove past nearby.
Shrapnel hit the car, wounding Faddel Shana’a of Reuters and Sabah Hemeida, who works for Dubai Television.