Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman recognised on Sunday that his soldiers premeditatedly targeted Palestinian journalist Yasser Murtaja while covering peaceful march in Gaza.
Murtaja was shot and wounded while standing about 100 metres far from the border fence in the east of the Gaza Strip on Friday.
He was evacuated to a hospital in Gaza and remained in a critical condition until he was announced dead at midnight.
Lieberman recognised that the Israeli occupation forces murdered Murtaja, however he was wearing a flak blue vest with the word PRESS printed clearly on it, because he had a camera drone.
“Anyone who operates multirotor drones over IDF soldiers needs to understand he is endangering himself,” he said.
Regarding the peaceful demonstrations in Gaza, he said: “What we saw over the past two weeks is a parade of terrorism.”
He claimed that “members of Hamas' military wing, dressed as civilians, tried to hurt Israeli citizens and its sovereignty,” stressing: “We will not allow it.”
Lieberman claimed that the Israeli army “is the most moral army in the world,” adding: “When we are acting in self-defence against terrorism—then everyone cries out. We need to stand strong and sharp.”
Journalist Yasser Murtaja, 30, worked for several Palestinian media bodies, including Ain Media, a local production company providing materials for foreign press services, including drone footage of the strip.
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