May Allah have mercy on Mohammad al-Durah

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May Allah have mercy on Mohammad al-Durah
Kashif
10/01/00 at 18:46:31
Where 'caught in the crossfire' can leave no room for doubt

By Robert Fisk

2 October 2000

When I read the word "crossfire", I reach for my pen. In the Middle East, it almost always means that the Israelis have killed an innocent person.
When the Israelis fired shells into the United Nations compound at Qana in southern Lebanon in 1996, Time magazine printed a photograph of a dead
baby with a caption saying it had been killed in "crossfire". This was untrue. The baby had been killed in the Israeli bombardment along with 105 other civilians – which started after Hizbollah guerrillas opened fire on an Israeli army unit that was laying booby-trap mines inside the UN zone.

So when 12-year-old Mohammed al-Durah was killed in Gaza on Saturday and I read on the Associated Press wire that the child was "caught in the
crossfire", I knew at once who had killed him. Sure enough, reporters investigating the killing said the boy was shot by Israeli troops. So was
his father – who survived – and so was the ambulance driver who was killed trying to rescue the boy. Yet BBC World Service Television was still saying yesterday morning that Mohammed al-Durah was "caught in the crossfire of a battle that has left hundreds wounded and killed many
others". I knew what this meant.

True, the Israeli soldiers who killed the boy may not have known whom they hit. They were apparently firing through a wall. But why the reluctance on the part of journalists to tell the truth? Why was it that in its report from Jerusalem on Saturday, the AP only mentioned – in paragraph 17, for heaven's sake – that Israeli troops, on the word of their own officer, fired anti-tank missiles during the confrontation? What was the Israeli army doing using missiles against rioters?

By yesterday afternoon, the story had been transformed into a "blame" conflict. The Israelis blamed the Palestinian authority for organising
riots. BBC World Service radio ran a tape of an Israeli official statingthat rioters were "shooting [sic] Molotov cocktails and stones" which "kill people". A listener might have been forgiven for thinking that 22 Israelis had been killed – rather than 22 Palestinians – in the previous 72 hours. The BBC then ran a tape of Nabil Shaath, the Palestinian spokesman, saying that the Israelis, not the Palestinians, had been shooting.

Truth is a hard bullet to bite. Palestinian policemen had also opened fire on the Israelis. Ironically, the Arab press in Beirut had no hesitation in saying this. The press in Lebanon showed photographs of Palestinian policemen firing Kalashnikov rifles at Israeli troops. But, given the fact that they did not kill Israelis – one of them was hit while firing – was it not worth mentioning that the Palestinians were the victims, not the Israelis?

When BBC Television got round to mentioning Ariel Sharon's flagrantly provocative visit to the Haram as-Sharif/ Temple Mount on Thursday, they
yesterday called him an "Israeli leader" when – for Palestinians – he was the man who bore indirect responsibility (according to Israel's own
inquiry) for the massacre of up to 2,000 Palestinian civilians in the Sabra and Chatila refugee camps in Beirut 18 years ago. The BBC
correspondent, Paul Adams, was one of the very few who bravely drew attention to Sharon's appalling record, pointing out Sharon had "an
extraordinary capacity to leave... destruction in his wake."

And so, by last night, the story had changed. No longer did Israeli soldiers and policemen kill at least 22 Palestinians in three days; now the question was whether the Palestinian Authority organised the riots that "led" [sic] to their deaths. The Israeli soldiers, who disobeyed
every human rights commitment by firing on rioters with live rounds, were respectfully called the "Israeli security forces", disregarding the fact that "security" was the one thing Israeli soldiers were clearly unable to
provide.

On CNN and the BBC and other satellite chains, reporters were asked if the killings would upset the "peace process", with no willingness to explain that it was the collapse of the peace process which lay at the heart of the riots. The Muslim holy areas of Jerusalem were "disputed" – although UN Security Council resolution 242, upon which the "peace process" is supposedly based, demands the withdrawal of Israeli forces from
territories captured during the 1967 war, including east Jerusalem.

What lies behind this – apart from the sheep-like inability of many journalists to call a spade a spade – was the continuing belief thatP Palestinians are, by nature, violent and riotous.

The United States called for an end to the "violence" – this courtesy of Secretary of State Madeleine Albright – without making any reference to Sharon's grotesque visit to the mosque grounds of east Jerusalem. By yesterday afternoon, the BBC were at it again, reporting that "Israeli authorities were bracing themselves for what may lie ahead". Weren't the Palestinians also doing that?

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/World/Middle_East/2000-10/fisk021000.shtml

Re: May Allah have mercy on Mohammad al-Durah
Sara
10/01/00 at 20:47:46
Assalam,
I saw the news coverage on the boy being shot. I went up to my room and I cried. My uncle's 14 year old nephew was shot and killed-he was protesting. Second the jews came to my aunts house and trashed everything while they were out--my aunt's house is very close to the Israele settlement. I NEVER saw my grandmother cry until today. She's a strong women and been through a lot. This is one of the saddest days.
Re: May Allah have mercy on Mohammad al-Durah
Saleema
10/01/00 at 22:53:43
Assalamoalyalykum,

Sara, I am sorry. You have made me cry.

wassalam
Re: May Allah have mercy on Mohammad al-Durah
jannah
10/02/00 at 22:52:02
Don't look at this if you are sensitive to images.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/middle_east/newsid_952000/952700.stm

please pray for this boy and his family. he is indeed a shaheed at 12 years old.
slm
Kathy
10/03/00 at 08:10:16
The Look of Terror.

I wish I did not look at this picture.

Yet, I am glad that I did.............
Re: May Allah have mercy on Mohammad al-Durah
Saleema
10/03/00 at 12:23:44
assalamoalykum,

When the little boy was shot, he said to his father, " Don't be afraid."
That broke my heart.

:(

Wassalam
Re: May Allah have mercy on Mohammad al-Durah
M.F.
10/03/00 at 11:39:53
Assalamu alaikum,
If you read the articles from say the associated press, you'll notice that the words are chosen very carefully.  For example, in an article I read this morning, the father and his child were not "taking cover", they were "cowering", and it makes a huge difference in the tone of the articles.  You'll also notice that the photos are photos of dead Israelis (oh,poor things) and that Israeli non-militaries that are killed are referred to as civilians, whereas the Palestinians are protesters (like they DESERVED to die caue they were protesting, while the others are just poor innocent civilians).  

Yesterday my husband wept.

May Allah have mercy on the Shuhada, and take revenge on the enemies of Islam.  Ameen.
 
NS
Re: May Allah have mercy on Mohammad al-Durah
Saleema
10/03/00 at 12:31:37
Assalmoalykum,

I think a lot of people all over the world wept. Everyone is crying. That goes to show how a Muslim doesn't know any boundaries. That we love each other and feel the other's pain. Indeed, a Muslim is not a true Muslim, until he is sadened by a hurt that his Muslim brother is feeling. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said that.

Wassalam
Re: May Allah have mercy on Mohammad al-Durah
muhannad
10/03/00 at 15:38:34
as-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah

It is with great sadness that we are witnessing the humiliation and slaughter of the muslims.  But while it is distressing we must also look to the remedy.  The non-muslims have a saying " A picture speaks a thousand words".  Looking at the palestinians, one asks,  how much Islam are they practising ? Are they, like so many of the muslims blindly following the practices of the West, instead of the Noble messenger.  Allah will not give victory to such a nation.  I don't want to sound cold, but what we have been witnessing is just a drop in the ocean to the cleansing that we have seen in recent times.  Isn't it time that we stopped getting emotional and started doing something practical ? Learn and practice our pure deen.... Strive to worship Allah as much as possible.  I see the solution as I long and arduous one and may Allah strengthen us.

was-salam
Muhannad
Re: May Allah have mercy on Mohammad al-Durah
truthinislam
10/04/00 at 17:26:19
Assalamu alaykum Brother Muhannad
What you have said is true, yet it does not only apply to the Palestinians (Our Muslim Brothers in Palestine) it applies to all the Muslim Ummah. We are all at fault and responsible at the collective and individual levels to correct and rectify. We should all get together and become one united Ummah on the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah if we even have in mind to help ourselves and our Muslim brethren worldwide. Crying is not the answer. Condemning the enemy is not the answer either. This has always been expected. We have been protesting for decades. However, we have not stepped one single step towards the right answer for all of our miseries and pain. It is sad and heart breaking. Our brother and son Muhammad will insha Allah get his great reward from His Loving Lord, The Almighty Allah, and may Allah help his mother and father get over their grief and start moving forward in the right direction. We have lost Muhammad and are very sad for this loss. Yet we will lose more Muhammads if we keep on being heedless and lost just like sheep. What is even sadder and more serious is that we forgot and sometimes ignored the teachings of the first Muhammad (Salla Allahu alayhee wasallam). I could go on talking forever, because there is so much to say!! But I think all of you know the truth. If you don't you may ask.
wassalamu alaykum
Abu Abd
Re: May Allah have mercy on Mohammad al-Durah
jannah
10/03/00 at 23:36:12
Indeed, we are a great many Muslims, but our hearts are scattered. Until our hearts come together as one, we will never be able to fight the kaffirs in battle because we've already lost.
Re: May Allah have mercy on Mohammad al-Durah
muhannad
10/04/00 at 19:01:27
as-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah

Jazakumullahu khayran for your posts.  What Jannah said I think covers some of the truth.  But remember that it is Allah who unites the hearts (see al-Quran).  Therefore what is the condition ?? Holding steadfast to the Book of Allah and the sunnah as it was understood in its original sense by the noble sahabah, May Allah forever be pleased with them.  Anything other than that will only lead to superficial unity.

was-salam
Muhannad
Re: May Allah have mercy on Mohammad al-Durah
chachi
10/04/00 at 19:38:20

Nothing is fogotten little brother
And nothing will be forgiven
may you find the peace in heaven
you didn't get on earth
Re: May Allah have mercy on Mohammad al-Durah
chachi
10/04/00 at 19:46:54

This is in effect the beginning of the war for Al-quds the yahood will soon have their dajjal

The first stage is the uniting of muslim religion and muslim nationalism. The secularist/kaffirs divorced the two . Ever noticed why jewish fundamentalists are called ultra-nationalists? BJP  supporters are Hindu nationalists? We are the only nation without a state , and a people without a state are to paraphrase a famous hadith of the prophet driftwood upon the sea . First we must build the ship and then we can guide it. This involves the muslim intellecuals, the muslim businessmen (and not kaffirs like crusader 'prince' abdullah of urdan i refer you to al-quaran 5:43-45)

Arafat is finished. All the old kaffir nationalism are dead. We assert that we muslims are a nation and that we alone will decide our destiny. One nation that is truly under God...
Re: May Allah have mercy on Mohammad al-Durah
chachi
10/04/00 at 19:51:10

How long ago was this?
Does anybody remember why Boutros was
Fired for investigating this obscenity
perpretated by the yahood?

http://www.moqawama.org/page2/f_report.htm
Re: May Allah have mercy on Mohammad al-Durah
Sara
10/04/00 at 21:58:30
Assalam,
I agree what everyone on this post is saying. I have visited Palestine and sadly--in my opinion--is getting to messed up. Not EVERYONE prays, an LOT of people gossip and backstab one another. And I know a lot of girls and guys who commited auldtry and who drink and do drugs. It's becomeing like the U.S.But I LOVE MY COUNTRY. And  chachi,I want to help.
Re: May Allah have mercy on Mohammad al-Durah
nadeem
10/05/00 at 11:37:17
Salaam alaykum Sara.

Please as a muslim do not say ' i love my country', that maybe part of the problems of our muslim way of thinking.The land of palestine is my land , aswell as pakistan & morocco, malaysia, saudi arabia and all other muslim countries.

We have to remmeber , we are muslims first and last , we are all united in our struggle against the kuffar.The problems in the palestine area is a problem for the whole muslim ummah.
Also do not forget the muslims of kashmir, chechniya, indonesia and many other areas where we being oppressed big time.

wassalaam

NADEEM
Re: May Allah have mercy on Mohammad al-Durah
truthinislam
10/06/00 at 00:10:24
Assalamu alaykum
Jazaka Allahu khayran Br. Nadeem
We have a saying in Arabic that goes: "I was prone to be eaten when the white ox was". It is a story of three oxen, black, white and red. They were always united and hence able to defeat any enemy that tried to attack them. The lion had always been trying to attack them and get a nice meal for his cobs out of their flesh. Yet he could not beat them when they were together. He had a plan to divide them and eat them one after the other. He went to the black and red oxen and talked to them about how the white ox was a real danger on all of them. He said: "Your white brother is very obvious; hunters can spot him from far, so why can't we get rid of him? Ya'll don't need to do any thing just don't defend him when I attack". They agreed and the lion and his family had a very nice meal out of that poor white ox. Likewise the red ox fell a prey. Finally the lion empowered with the flesh of the two oxen built in his body came to the black ox for one only purpose; to eat him. The black ox realized his grave mistake when he agreed on the lion's plan in the first place and realized what his destiny was going to be and said: "I was eaten when the white ox was".
My dear brothers: Islam did not cause dissentions among people; it rather made all Muslims unite under one religion, one aqeedah, and one goal. We should all feel the pain of every Muslim in the whole entire Islamic nation, the pain of our brothers and sisters in Palestine, the pain of the sisters being raped in Kashmir, and the pain of the hungry Muslim brothers and sisters being forced to change their religion to be handed a bowl of rice when at the same time left over food is being thrown in the trash in many Muslim houses.
We should understand the nature of the enemy of Islam. This enemy does exactly what the lion did with the oxen. We are all at fault we all need to go back to the straight path and follow the true Islam. We have been trying all kinds of solutions yet we have not tried the solution that Allah (T) has set in the Quran and Sunnah. Until then we will keep on suffering and paying the toll of being misguided and divided.
Wassalamu alaykum
Abu Abd
Re: May Allah have mercy on Mohammad al-Durah
Sara
10/05/00 at 13:42:48
Assalam,
Don't get me wrong,nadeem and truthinislam, I care about all the muslim countries and love them equally. It just that since I have relatives in Palestine and what happen to some of them, really hit me hard. It made me THINK about everything in life. Yes, when I see other muslims in other countries getting killed or who are homeless, I cry. I'm not ashamed to admit it. All of this stuff is making my desire to pray stronger. In a post, I wrote that a lady at the mosque is teaching me to pray. At first I was thinking,oh I HAVE to pray so I'll learn.Now my thinking is different. Like I said this deal in Palestine really hit me hard. And what Muhannad and Truthinislam wrote really scared me because it is so true!
Re: May Allah have mercy on Mohammad al-Durah
Saleema
10/05/00 at 22:32:52
Assalamoalykum,

You guys are absoluterly right. We should love each other because we are Muslims and not because of each other's natinality. The struggle of one Muslim is the struggle of another Muslims.

It really makes me sad to see racism among Muslims sometimes. It's not about being Arab, Asian, White or Black. It's all about being Muslims. Pride is a sin, except to be proud of being a Muslim.

I get really depressed too when I see Muslims suffering all over the world and sometimes I cry while watching footage of those people on TV. And not only Muslims, but I cry for non-Muslims too who are caught in this mess of capitalizationist world. One of the main reasons that innocent people all over are suffering is because of imperialism and capitalism. Anyone, keeping track of what's going on with World Trade Organization?
It's really disgusting, I am disgusted at the IMF too.

All this poverty, all this hunger, all these wars are somehow, in one way or another,  related to money. It makes me sick.

Wassalam
Re: May Allah have mercy on Mohammad al-Durah
Sara
10/05/00 at 22:35:18
Saleema-YOU SAID IT GIRL!!!


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