Ma'an News Agency 31 July 2006
MaanImages photographer Mohammad Az Zanoun arrives to his home in Gaza City after being treated at the Soroka Hospital in Beer Sheva, 30 July 2006. Mohammad stayed at the Soroka Hospital for treatment more than two weeks after he was hit several times by Israeli fire and shrapnel when covering an incursion east of Gaza City three weeks ago. (Ma’an Images/Thaeer al-Hassany)
Ma’an news agency photographer Mohammad Az Zanoun was discharged on Sunday from the the Soroka Israeli hospital where he had been undergoing treatment for the last three weeks.
Mohammad was injured by Israeli shrapnel and shot in the stomach while covering the Israeli aggression and incursion of the Ash Sheja’iyya neighborhood in Gaza three weeks ago. He was first taken to the Ash Shifa’a hospital in Gaza and then to the Israeli hospital at Ma’an’s expense.
He was met at Erez crossing into Gaza by a number of his colleagues from Ma’an, friends and family.
The following is Ma’an’s original report on his injury, published 8 July 2006:
Ma’an photographer Mohammad Az Zanoun was a witness to the Israeli force crimes on Saturday morning, but the Israeli occupation army prevented him from transmitting these crimes into pictures. They shot at him and splinters from their projectiles seriously injured him. Zanoun was taken to hospital for treatment.
Mohammad Az Zanoun, 20, is a new recruit who suddenly found himself in the middle of a war. He insists on being the messenger of his people because he wants to tell the world about his people’s suffering through photos and pictures. He thought that his honest photos might move the hearts and conscience of the world.
The young photographer was seriously shot and injured by shrapnel from Israeli projectiles. One hit his mouth and teeth and cut his finger. The other hit him on his body. In spite of that, he continued to work, strangely insistent. Then the Israeli soldiers aimed their weapons directly at him and shot him in the stomach. He fell instantly to the ground with his camera.
Ma’an photographer Mohammad Az Zanoun treated at the al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City July 8, 2006. Mohammad was hit several times by Israeli fire when covering the incursion east of Gaza City. (MaanImages/Thaeer al-Hassany)
Eyewitnesses said that he fell to the ground shouting, “Where is the camera? There are many photos in it which are witness to the killing of Palestinians; there are many photos of the Palestinians who have been killed.”
Zanoun rejected his mother’s request that he return home after the Israeli tanks entered the area of Zaitoun where he lives. He insisted on continuing his work, as he believes he is contributing to a cause, the cause of his people. This is what he said to all those who called for him to return. He told them that he has learned in order to serve his people and their just cause.
He was taken to a hospital in a civilian car as the ambulances were not able to reach him. He is currently undergoing a serious operation in the Shifa’a hospital. His colleagues were able to see him when he was admitted to the operating theatre for surgery.
Miraculously, Zanoun escaped injury when an Israeli projectile landed among a group of Palestinians in Beit Lahiya on Thursday. He took many photos of the victims of Thursday’s deadly strikes and sold his photos to many famous news agencies.
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