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Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Why would Hamas allow civilians - and journalists - near unexploded bombs?

From AP:
An Associated Press video journalist has been killed in an ordnance explosion in the Gaza Strip, together with a Palestinian translator and three members of the Gaza police.

Simone Camilli, 35, died Wednesday when Gaza police engineers were neutralizing unexploded ordnance in the Gaza town of Beit Lahiya left over from fighting between Israel and Islamic militants.
Ma'an adds:
At least five people were killed and another six were critically injured after an unexploded Israeli missile blew up in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, witnesses and a health ministry spokesman said.

Ashraf al-Qidra identified three of the dead as Bilal Muhammad al-Sultan, 27, Taysir Ali al-Hum, 40, and Hazem Ahmad Abu Murad, 38.
Hazem Abu Murad was the head of Hamas' bomb disposal unit.

He achieved a bit of celebrity last week as he showed off his skills in front of other journalists and Gazans.
An anxious crowd watched on Thursday as Hazem Abu Murad and his team stood over a unexploded one-tonne Israeli bomb in a field of tomato and potato plants.

The tension increased as Mr Abu Murad calmly approached the bomb, seemingly unfazed by the task. Moments later, he reassured the crowd in a rather dramatic fashion.

“It’s already been disabled! Don’t worry – it won’t explode!” he shouted, jumping up and down on the bomb.
Why is there a crowd only a short distance from an unexploded one ton bomb?

If Abu Murad wanted to do his job without a protective suit or specialized materials, that's his problem. But the news stories about him before his death indicate that he - and, by extension, Hamas security - was very cavalier about the lives of Gazans that he is pretending to protect.

I don't think it is purposeful, but it is an indication of how little Hamas prioritizes the safety of the people it is supposed to protect. And that should be a big deal.

The AP reporter is dead because of Hamas' disregard for the value of human life.

One other small fact revealed in the late Abu Murad's showing off to reporters last week:
Mr Abu Murad said his team has also dealt with “tens” of rockets launched at Israel by Hamas and other militant groups that failed to reach their target, falling instead back onto Gaza.
Really? because judging from Western media dispatches for the past month, there were no such thing! Every civilian was killed by Israel, without exception!

Tens of unexploded terror rockets translate to hundreds of exploded terror rockets in Gaza.

(h/t Gary, Bob K)