In the world media’s tendentious coverage of the Great March of Return in Gaza, the stories that first appeared in the continuous coverage were always those versions put out by the “Palestinians,” or more exactly, by Hamas. Israeli corrections would be issued, but were not always reported, and when they were reported, became the objects of scornful and doubting delivery.
A good example of this was in early June. Reuters reported on the death of Razan al-Najar:
Najar, a 21-year-old volunteer medic, was shot as she ran toward the fortified border fence, east of the south Gaza city of Khan Younis, in a bid to reach a casualty, a witness said.
Wearing a white uniform, “she raised her hands high in a clear way, but Israeli soldiers fired and she was hit in the chest,” the witness, who requested anonymity, told Reuters.
At her house in Khan Younis, Najar’s mother collapsed in grief as she was handed her daughter’s blood-stained uniform.
A statement from Gaza’s Health Ministry mourned Najar as a “martyr”. Interviewed by Reuters interview in April, she said she would see the border protests through until their end.
“I am returning and not retreating,” Najar’s last Facebook post said. “Hit me with your bullets. I am not afraid.”
Similar stories about the noble volunteer medic, risking her life to help others, appeared everywhere, an innocent shot deliberately, for no apparent reason, by the murdering Israelis. The New York Times was particularly egregious. Its headline read: “A Woman Dedicated To Saving Lives Loses Hers in Gaza Violence.” The report continued:
She had become a fixture at the weekly protests along the fence dividing the Gaza Strip from Israel, a young woman in a white paramedic’s uniform rushing into harm’s way to help treat the wounded.
As a volunteer emergency medical worker, she said she wanted to prove that women had a role to play in the conservative Palestinian society of Gaza.
“Being a medic is not only a job for a man,” Razan al-Najjar, 20, said in an interview at a Gaza protest camp last month. “It’s for women, too.”
An hour before dusk on Friday, the 10th week of the Palestinian protest campaign, she ran forward to aid a demonstrator for the last time.
Israeli soldiers fired two or three bullets from across the fence, according to a witness, hitting Ms. Najjar in the upper body. She was pronounced dead soon after.
Once the damage had been done with this story of the selfless girl who sacrificed herself and the wicked Israelis who deliberately aimed at her as she rushed “into harm’s way to help treat the wounded,” other details, provided by the Israelis, finally came out, and suggested quite a different version of events. A video showing Razan al-Najjar describing herself as a “human shield” was unearthed. She was one of those who allowed herself to be used by Hamas as such a shield, so as to protect those behind her who were determined to reach the security fence and breach it. The Israelis, Hamas knew, would never deliberately shoot the obviously innocent. An-Najjar at least knew what she was doing and the risks she was taking; others similarly employed by Hamas as human shields — children and the mentally impaired — did not understand Hamas was using them.
Furthermore, the description of Razan Al-Najar as being strictly a medical volunteer, intent on “helping” people, was called into question by another video that showed a female paramedic, whose identify is not certain but whom the Israelis claimed may have been Al-Najjar, hurling a smoke grenade across the security fence toward Israeli forces. Even if the video turns out not to have been of Al-Najar, it offers evidence that some paramedics did not limit themselves to treating the wounded, but also engaged in attacks.
“Razan al-Najar is not the angel of mercy Hamas propaganda is making her out to be,” IDF Arabic spokesman Maj. Avichay Adraee tweeted.
The Israelis, of course, have been investigating the matter with their wonted thoroughness. They want to find out, as much as anyone, exactly the circumstances which ended in Al-Najar’s death. Was she hit by mistake as she ran forward, because she was too close to someone about to throw an explosive over the fence? The Israelis have already concluded that there was no intent to hit her; she was hit by mistake. Why do so few of the subsequent reports fail to include this admission?
The IDF, in other words, does not deny killing Razan Al-Najar. When it finds out exactly what happened, it will issue a full report to the world. It will not spare its own soldiers if any of them ignored guidelines as to when to shoot, and what to aim for. But this absurd Morality Tale in which the dead girl is depicted as an “angel of mercy” by Hamas propagandists and its willing collaborators in the Western press is not something the Israelis should be expected to endure, and the video clips they have released, the first of Razan Al-Najar describing herself as a “human shield” and, in another, a female paramedic — who may be Al-Najar — flinging a gas canister across the fence, ought at least to give the fair-minded pause.
The anti-Israel brigade did in this case as it has always done, that is, it has ignored both Israel’s claim that the killing was a mistake and its willingness to investigate itself. Instead, it has chosen to accept fully the Hamas version of events. As of now, much of the world’s media has already decided that, in releasing a video clip suggesting that Razan al-Najjar knew exactly her value to Hamas as a human shield, Israel is even more cruelly at fault, as it “attempts to smear Gaza medic.” No, Israel has only been attempting to present a fuller picture of the situation. It has owned up to shooting An-Najjar, and will issue a full report as to how such a mistake occurred.
Meanwhile, at the U.N. General Assembly, a resolution denouncing Israel for using “excessive force” in Gaza, that failed even to mention Hamas, was passed on June 14, with 120 yes votes, 8 noes, and 45 abstentions. An attempt by Ambassador Nikki Haley to add an amendment that would also condemn Hamas also was struck down, even though it had a slim majority, 62-58, and 42 abstentions. UNGA President Miroslav Lajčák of Slovakia ruled that a two-thirds majority was needed for an amendment to be added to a draft resolution.
Someone had to stand up against the mighty empire of Israel, and its brutal suppression of the innocent Arab protesters, who marched bravely, day after day, toward that oppressive fence, waving their flags and singing their songs, despite being shot at, despite being killed. And killed, too, were those fresh-faced young Arab nurses, such as Razan al-Najar, cut down as they rushed unselfishly to treat those wounded protesters. Thank goodness for the fair-minded countries at the U.N. Where would we be without them?
JawsV says
“Gaza” is a Turkish word meaning “Jihad.” When I learned that all became clear.
esther says
I don’t think so——–
JawsV says
Why not? I read it in a book about Jihad. I’ll try and find the passage later.
Mateen Elass says
Keep on learning, JawsV. The term “Gaza” predates any Turkish influence in the area. Most scholars attribute it to the Hebrew language and point to two towns named “Gaza” in the OT. In Hebrew the root “azza” means “strength,” or in situational context “strong city.”
JawsV says
No, you keep on learning, Mateen. I know plenty about Islam so bug off. Do not talk down to me, you got it, Muslim? I hope you learn a few things today!
Norger says
“Do not talk down to me you got it, Muslim?” Are you really that thin-skinned? We all hide behind our keyboards, but do you realize how that sounds? Mateen is not the enemy here. He deserves more respect than that. Come on.
JawsV says
Mind your own camel wax, Norge. I couldn’t care less what you think, you thin-skinned moron! I didn’t say Mateen was the enemy. No, I don’t have to have respect for him. You come on! Oh, and hide behind your keyboard as you do. Shove off!
gravenimage says
Dear Jaws, Mateen Elass is not a Muslim–he is a *contributor to Jihad Watch*.
Here are his stories here:
https://www.jihadwatch.org/author/mateen-elass
TheBuffster says
JawsV, Norger is trying to make you aware that you overreacted to Mateen’s comment, which in my judgment you surely did. Mateen was a little cheeky with you but not actually insulting, but you responded with real rudeness and ill will. You may not care how you appear to others, but you should care whether or not you’re behaving with unjustified rudeness.
Perhaps “Gaza” *is* a Turkish word meaning “jihad”, but I haven’t come across that anywhere myself. However, at Dictionary.com, there’s this: “The word “Gaza” comes from the Hebrew “Azzah,” loosely meaning strong city. The entire region is named for its capital city, which has been conquered many times over the centuries.”
http://www.dictionary.com/e/gaza/
At Wikipedia there’s this: “Gaza is also mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as the place where Samson was imprisoned and met his death.[4] The prophets Amos and Zephaniah are believed to have prophesied that Gaza would be deserted.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Gaza
And this is from the Bible: Amos 1:7: “I will send fire on the walls of Gaza that will consume her fortresses.”
https://www.biblica.com/bible/?osis=niv:Amos.1:7%E2%80%931:7
And this: Zephaniah 2:4: “Gaza will be abandoned and Ashkelon left in ruins. At midday Ashdod will be emptied and Ekron uprooted.”
Perhaps coincidentally “gaza” means “Jihad” in Turkish as well, or “war” or something like that, but I’m going to have to see the evidence before I buy that, so please do go ahead and provide your source.
gravenimage says
Jaws–with all respect–you are mistaken.
Gaza is much older than the Muslim invasion. The word “Gaza” comes from the Hebrew “Azzah,” loosely meaning strong city.
One of the labors of Hercules involved the columns of Gaza.
JawsV says
I’ve found the passage. It concerns the Turks.
“For their Holy War the Turks sometimes abandoned the Arabic term “Jihad” for the Turkish expression “Gaza.” The ideal of gaza, Holy War, was an important factor in the foundation and development of the Ottoman state…Gaza was a religious duty, inspiring every kind of enterprise and sacrifice. ”
From “Jihad in the West: Muslim Conquests From the 7th to the 21st Centuries” by Paul Fregosi (1998). The above p. 211.
Turkish soldiers were called “ghazi.” (p. 242)
I recommend this book to everyone. It’s excellent.
gravenimage says
Jaws, Ghazi does indeed mean “warrior” in Arabic, and is another word for “Jihadist”. It’s original connotation was “raider” or “brigand”.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghazi_(warrior)
But Gaza–as the stretch of land–does not have the same derivation.
From the quote you provide, it does not appear that Paul Fregosi is referring to the Levant, either.
JawsV says
No, he’s referring to the Ottoman Turks. “Gaza” is Turkish holy War like Jihad in Arabic.
gravenimage says
Jaws, Gaza is *ancient*. It much predates Islam.
There are references to Gaza in the Old Testament:
Judges 16:
Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.
And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city…
….
The Bible is much older than Islam. The estimated date for the Book of Judges in the Bible is 550 bce. This is over a thousand years before Islam.
JawsV says
gi — I’m well aware that the Bible predates Islam. There was no Islam until the 7th century AD. Islam begins 622. I already know that.
So, Gaza appears in the Bible (OT) and it’s also the Turkish expression for Jihad.
Case closed. We done now?
elee says
She gave her life for lies and hatred. She was a victim, like a billion and a half Muslims. Had she not been a Muslim think what she could have been.
RichardL says
At least she couldn’t spawn another generation of jihadis. So her death wasn’t in vain. Her life certainly was.
Robert Wasson says
Does she qualify for the Darwin Award?
don vito says
Razan Al Najar, imitated kufr, by the scriptures and prophet she follows, by imitating kufr she was an apostate. Therefore worthy of death. Praise allah (s/).
762x51FMJ says
The best possible hope for Islam
Is when it extinguishes itself.
gravenimage says
A Morality Tale: The Death of Razan Al-Najar
…………………..
None of this surprises me. Thanks for the expose.
roberta says
I think anyone that has payed any attention to world events had a pretty good idea that the ”innocent victim” fraud was being once again put into use.
Isnt it something that the least likely to give pity are the most likely to beg for it?
Giacomo Latta says
”not just men can be medics, women can too”
Make a statement like that running toward Israel then you should be watching your back not your front. If she wasn’t killed by her own people it must be because Hamas was using medical status to hide their grenades.
Richard says
JawsV & Graven Image: I admit to knowing nothing about the meaning of Gaza, but words often have many meanings in different languages at different times. All of them can be right and folks often pun on them, so you could both be right. Take the English word: to, too, two. By sound alone, what is the meaning? This is why curses in many religions have to be spoken in their specific language, and quite often whomever hears them has to understand it. Colors and shapes also have hidden meanings, so your interpretation is important. But one thing is certain. The woman is dead as a doornail.
gravenimage says
Agreed, Richard. Gaza does indeed sound quite similar to Ghazi–the words just have different derivations.