Demonstrators take cover during clashes with Israeli troops at a protest where Palestinians demand the right to return to their homeland, at the Israel-Gaza border in the southern Gaza Strip, April 20, 2018. (SOURCE: REUTERS)
A Palestinian journalist, shot by Israeli forces while covering a protest along the Gaza-Israel border nearly two weeks ago, died of his wounds on Wednesday, Palestinian health officials said.
Ahmed Abu Hussein, 24, worked for Gaza's Al-Shaab radio station and wore a protective vest marked "Press" at the protest on April 13, witnesses said. Photos of Abu Hussein lying wounded in his vest appeared on social media.
He was the second journalist killed by Israeli gunfire since the weekly Friday protests, for the right of return of Palestinians refugees and their descendants to their homes in what is now Israel, began on March 30.
The health officials said a bullet penetrated Abu Hussein's side. He was moved from Gaza to a hospital in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and then transferred to a hospital in Israel, where he died.
His death raised the number of Palestinians killed in the protests near the border to 38.
An Israeli military spokeswoman had no immediate comment on Abu Hussein's death.
Yaser Murtaja, 30, a cameraman for Palestinian Ain Media, was shot on April 6 and died the next day. After his death, the Israeli military said it does not intentionally target journalists and that it would look into the circumstances of the shooting.
The Palestinian journalists' union accused Israel of "deliberately" targeting Abu Hussein and Murtaja, vowing to seek to bring "leaders of the occupation" to justice.
Abu Hussein will be buried in Gaza on Thursday.
Israel’s live-fire response to the protests has drawn international criticism.
*This story is edited by Ahram Online
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