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Last update - 00:13 21/04/2008
IDF launches formal probe into Gaza killing of Reuters cameraman
By Haaretz Service and The Associated Press
Tags: Reuters, IDF, Bil'in 

The Israel Defense Forces announced Sunday the launching of a formal investigation into the killing of a Reuters cameraman in Gaza, after a U.S.-based human rights group accused troops of either firing recklessly or targeting the cameraman.

Fadel Shana was killed while filming an IDF tank in Gaza on Wednesday, a day of heavy fighting. His final footage shows the tank firing a shell in his direction. Palestinian medics say five others were killed in the incident, including four teenagers.

The IDF denied it had deliberately targeted "uninvolved civilians," and slammed such claims as "false and misleading."
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"Following the fighting in the Gaza Strip on April 16th, 2008, the IDF is conducting a field investigation to look into the claims regarding the circumstances of the death of a Reuters cameraman," said the IDF in a statement. "The IDF similarly investigates every claim regarding uninvolved civilians hurt in fighting areas."

The statement also said that, "In accordance with IDF policy, the field investigation will be reviewed by the Military Advocate General."

The New York-based group Human Rights Watch investigated the incident and has accused the IDF of either firing recklessly or targeting Shana.

The IDF announced Sunday that it would launching an investigation, which will be reviewed by the Military Advocate General. The military said that it does not deliberately target uninvolved civilians and denied targeting Shana during a clash with Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip last week.

Two Gaza teenagers who sustained wounds during Wednesday's IDF ground operation died on Sunday, raising the death toll from that incident to six, Palestinian hospital officials said.

The two boys were 16 and 17 years old. They were reportedly hit by a shell fired from an IDF tank that immediately killed Shana and three other civilians in Gaza.

The teens' deaths came a day after the New York-based organization Human Rights Watch called for a probe into Shana's death. "Israel must investigate the death of a Reuters TV cameraman and three others who were killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza," said a statement from the rights group.

On Saturday, reporters in Gaza City attended a wake for Shana, the 23-year-old cameraman for the Reuters news agency. Shana was the first Gaza journalist to be killed in the territory in the past eight years of Israeli-Palestinian fighting.

The Israeli human rights group B'Tselem said earlier this week it has collected evidence that Shana was killed by a so-called flechette tank shell that spewed tiny darts over a wide radius.

Reuters has released Shana's final video which showed a tank on a distant hilltop open fire. About a second later, the picture turns black. Shana was wearing a bulletproof jacket marked with Press at the time and his vehicle was also marked with TV signs.

"Israeli soldiers did not make sure they were aiming at a military target before firing," said Joe Stork from Human Rights Watch. "There is evidence suggesting they actually targeted the journalists."

The IDF has said it is looking into Shana's death, but will continue to use flechette shells. Rights groups say the weapon is inappropriate for densely populated areas like the Gaza Strip.

Shana was the first Gaza cameraman to die in the conflict. In response, many of his colleagues have posted Shana's picture on their facebook profiles and taped his photograph to their cars.

Eight other journalists were killed covering the West Bank and Gaza Strip since 1992, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists.

On Saturday, reporters in Gaza plastered their cars with pictures of Shana holding his camera and drove through Gaza City in a convoy, despite fuel shortages have paralyzed most movement in the territory
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  1.   5 Israeli civilians damaging the fence! 21:44  |  Silvienne 18/04/08
  2.   The question is.... 21:48  |  Esther 18/04/08
  3.   How did Shana die? 21:52  |  Steve 18/04/08
  4.   Human shields? I don`t think so 21:57  |  Natallie Durson 18/04/08
  5.   First Al Jazeera , now Reuters 22:14  |  Hizbullahi 18/04/08
  6.   Cameraman dead or Palestinian Fauxtography? 22:32  |  Gili 18/04/08
  7.   Photographers 22:44  |  Miriam 18/04/08
  8.   What is it with Reuters this week! 23:10  |  Aphemia 18/04/08
  9.   Non Fatal Ammo? 23:31  |  Anon 18/04/08
  10.   Settlers put their lives in danger 00:56  |  Harold 19/04/08
  11.   If you work in a dangerous place you can get hurt. Common sense 00:56  |  Jo 19/04/08
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  13.   New ammo 01:02  |  ron 19/04/08
  14.   Natallie is right 01:11  |  Fast Spin Echo 19/04/08
  15.   What a load of crap from the IDF .... 01:14  |  Dutch 19/04/08
  16.   Natalie is full of it... 01:22  |  IW 19/04/08
  17.   the fence 01:37  |  Ricardo Levy 19/04/08
  18.   #1 Silvienne - Try reading before you write 03:51  |  * BEN JABO 19/04/08
  19.   #2 Esther - I`ll tell you why 03:56  |  * BEN JABO 19/04/08
  20.   #12 `Dr` L. Brnd. You are not... 04:00  |  Maureen Ann 19/04/08
  21.   Sili Gili 04:02  |  wibism 19/04/08
  22.   IW 04:06  |  wibism 19/04/08
  23.   #4 Human Shields? 04:07  |  Douglas Fireman 19/04/08
  24.   18 closed military zone 04:11  |  wibism 19/04/08
  25.   Pot calling the kettle black 04:13  |  Colin Wright 19/04/08
  26.   Reporter killed 04:15  |  FlapJack 19/04/08
  27.   Israel is very near to complete self destruction 05:00  |  BBSNews 19/04/08
  28.   #25 Colin Wrong - It`s summer outside, stop the snow job 05:39  |  * BEN JABO 19/04/08
  29.   Cameraman Killed - Guess who`s fault 06:14  |  * BEN JABO 19/04/08
  30.   Pot Colin the kettle black (1) 07:01  |  Dan 19/04/08
  31.   Pot Colin the kettle black (2) 07:02  |  Dan 19/04/08
  32.   IDF: band of terrorists and liars 07:58  |  anti-racist 19/04/08
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  35.   Re *Ben Jabo #19 11:23  |  Esther 19/04/08
  36.   #3 Putting the holocaust deniers to shame 11:56  |  Ben Alofs 19/04/08
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  38.   B`tselem objects to IDF using fatal munition! 12:22  |  Stephen 19/04/08
  39.   #4 Natalie - Human shields 12:29  |  Stephen 19/04/08
  40.   Blatant lies ... 12:30  |  John Pap 19/04/08
  41.   Additional information 12:40  |  John 19/04/08
  42.   #40 - Guess it depends on what you read, John 13:14  |  JES 19/04/08
  43.   #37 dr ben the lawyer and the wrong medicine 13:21  |  victor hardman1 19/04/08
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  47.   Linthwaite El-Birawi Tarik 14:10  |  x-ray 19/04/08
  48.   Linthwaite El-Birawi Tarik 14:11  |  x-ray 19/04/08
  49.   Linthwaite El-Birawi Tarik 14:11  |  x-ray 19/04/08
  50.   #37 ben Zona from wales 14:32  |  Ari ben Yisrael 19/04/08
  51.   Dr L. Brnd and expulsion 15:10  |  Phil 19/04/08
  52.   #50 Ari 15:14  |  Ben Alofs 19/04/08
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  59.   Silly & Vain 18:43  |  Ibn Musa 19/04/08
  60.   *57 terroist helpers 19:44  |  bob 19/04/08
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  62.   X-Ray, what can we see only Jews speak the truth 21:11  |  El-Birawi 19/04/08
  63.   Dr L Brnd - What really happened at Bil`in -an eyewitness account 21:41  |  IWPS 19/04/08
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  66.   Re *Ben #58 00:40  |  Esther 20/04/08
  67.   Doctor Bernard 00:41  |  Navy Vet 20/04/08
  68.   HERE is INVESTIGATION REPORT! 02:02  |  dodi roni 20/04/08
  69.   #4; Natalie Durson, here is what the Pals say 02:40  |  Doc Holliday 20/04/08
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