Israeli Troops Gun Down Cameraman From Egyptian TV
March 30, 2002
From Al-Jazeera & Wire Reports

Ramallah – A TV cameraman from the Egyptian Nile TV camera crew was wounded by gunshots from Israeli troops.

At least one bullet struck cameraman Carlos Handal in the mouth. He managed to stop and get out of the van – which was marked with "TV" signs – holding his face with one hand.

The cameraman was taking footage of the events from inside the car when he and the driver were surprised by Israeli shootings. Medics were not able to reach the place of the incident. Al-Jazeera TV aired the video tape of the attack on Handal and his colleague. Handal was finally hospitalized and is in moderate condition.

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Daniel Seaman, an Israeli government spokesman, said Israeli troops do not shoot at media vehicles. He said the incident wouldn't be investigated.

Some 40 journalists have been wounded and one killed since the beginning of a Palestinian uprising 18 months ago.

On March 13, during an earlier occupation of Ramallah, Italian photographer Raffaele Ciriello died from shots that witnesses said were fired by a machine gun on an Israeli tank. Israeli officials say they are investigating that incident.