An image of Israelis in Sderot who gathered on a hill to watch and celebrate Gaza being bombed has gone viral on Twitter. The photo posted by a Danish journalist caused uproar online.
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Allan Sørensen, the Middle Eastern correspondent for the Danish newspaper Kristeligt Dagblad, said that he took the image on Wednesday in Sderot, a city about two kilometers from Gaza.
Sderot cinema. Israelis bringing chairs 2 hilltop in sderot 2 watch latest from Gaza. Clapping when blasts are heard. pic.twitter.com/WYZquV62O7
— Allan Sørensen (@allansorensen72) July 9, 2014
In just a few days the scandalous image has gathered about 8,500
retweets.
The picture sparked confusion and outrage among social media
users, with many questioning the morality of making a scene of
murder a public spectacle and celebrating it.
@allansorensen72 shame on them. Those lights are killing inocent people!
— Muly (@muly_) July 10, 2014
@allansorensen72 If this is true then God help us all. What's become of the human race?
— baydu.co.za (@Baydu) July 10, 2014
@allansorensen72@MusaratZAhmed sickening!
— Rizwan Shafiq (@rizshafiq) July 10, 2014
@allansorensen72 That is just inhumane, abominable and disgusting. Shame on you, Israel. @joanneleon
— John M. Gallardo (@MacJuanma) July 10, 2014
One more user commented that people like those in the picture
were “encouraging a culture of death.”
The newspaper’s follow-up article on Friday described the scene in
details where over 50 people had gathered for a “party.”
“The hill has been transformed into something that most
closely resembles the front row of a reality war theatre. It
offers a direct view of the densely populated Gaza Strip,”
wrote the paper’s Middle Eastern correspondent Nikolaj Krak.
The article said that while the majority of the 25,000 residents
of Sderot hid in their homes in fear of another attack from Gaza,
others brought chairs and sofas to watch Israeli night airstrikes
while enjoying pop-corn, hookah and chit-chatting.
"We are here to see Israel destroy Hamas,” Eli Chone, a
22-year-old American living in Israel told Kristeligt Dagblad. He
then pointed to a dot of light in the sky explaining that,
“it is a fighter who is about to dive. This means that it is
about to shoot."
Following the airstrike the spectators on the hill started
cheering, and “solid applause” followed, the Danish
correspondent wrote.
Watch the latest report from the region by RT's Paula Slier:
Palestinian death toll reaches 130
In the Wednesday attack celebrated by Sderot residents, a
Palestinian journalist was killed and several others were injured
when a missile hit a press vehicle in the Gaza Strip, according
to local media reports.
On Tuesday, Israel
launched Operation Protective Edge, which it claims is an
attack against Hamas militants in Gaza. However, at least 130
Palestinians have been killed and over 900 injured, most of whom
are civilians, according to medical officials.
Israeli airstrikes killed nine people on Saturday. Israeli forces
bombed a center for the disabled in the eastern part of Gaza
City, killing two women, according to Palestinian medics. Three
militants and four more civilians, including a 65-year-old man,
were also killed by airstrikes in the coastal part of the city.
One of the strikes targeted a mosque which was reduced to rubble.
The Israeli government said it had housed Hamas weapons.
Since the military campaign began, there have been no Israeli
fatalities. However, over 120 Israelis have been injured,
according to local media.
Despite UN concerns, international pressure, and
protests, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said
the strikes will continue. Since July 8, Israel has hit 1,160
targets, according to the country’s military press service. Army
Chief Lieutenant-General Benny Gantz also hinted that Israeli
tanks and troops are ready to enter Gaza by land.