Gaza's emblematic "Freedom Demonstrator" shot in the leg by Israeli forces

Aed Abu Amro, 20, owns a small kiosk that sells cigarettes in the al-Zeitoun neighborhood in the south of Gaza City. On October 22, he became infamous on the Internet after the Anadolu agency photographer, Mustafa Hassouna, captured the shirtless Abu Amro T-shirt, firmly gripping a Palestinian flag in a hand and sling in the Another during a protest against the fence separating the Gaza Strip and Israel. The photo has been shared more than 50,000 times.

When the image became viral, it was compared to Eugène Delacroix's famous painting "Freedom Guiding the People," where an incarnated young lady led an armed crowd to oust King Charles X during the Second French Revolution while clutching what will later be the flag of France.

As in the superb photograph taken by Aed Abu Amro, twenty years old, of Mustafa Hassona, Freedom to rule the people of Eugene Delacroix portrays the fight for freedom as a fierce patriotic and without embarrassment:[A]Although I may not have fought for my country, at least I will have painted for her. " pic.twitter.com/Qm60ehL97U

– Dylan Sebastian Evans (@DylanSebEvans) October 27, 2018

What shit fuck. "13th attempt to break the blockade of Gaza by sea". Photo of Mustafa Hassouna (Andalusian Agency for Getty): pic.twitter.com/0s2zxf72z2

– Laleh Khalili (@LalehKhalili) October 23, 2018

Yesterday, Abu Amro received a rubber bullet in his leg as the Israeli navy cracked down on marine protests in the northern city of Beit Lahia, which borders Zikim Beach in Israel, south of Ashkelon. I saw paramedics pulling him out of the sandy shore. Abu Amro was shot when Israeli forces opened fire on a rally of 15 unmoored Palestinian boats in the Gaza port heading for Israeli waters. The scene was frantic when the fire broke out in the middle of a tear gas dam, which was also shot at the flotilla.

Flotilla demonstrations coincided with protests in the Great March of Return, which means that Palestinians confront each week with Israeli forces on the edge of the land barrier and the waterfront.

When I spoke to Abu Amro two weeks ago, he mentioned the possibility of getting hurt. At that time, he told me that he "wanted to experience the pain so keen to be pulled by these Israeli shooters" because "we have to struggle as long injustice and humiliation are practiced against the inhabitants of Gaza ".

Abu Amro said he had not missed any of the six months of protests that began in Gaza on March 30, 2018 and continues every Friday. Since the beginning of the blockade of Gaza 11 years ago, he has not been able to leave the enclave. He insisted that he continue to protest against "everything that cost him".

Abu Amro was delighted that his image evokes a resemblance to French painting. That day he spent three hours in total protesting, without a shirt.

"It's really nice to compare my shirtless image to this topless woman. I think she's going to inspire me, "Abu Amro said timidly as he showed French painting on his mobile phone to his friends who were circling around him.

Delacroix painted this iconic image in 1830 commemorating those who took up arms and marched under the slogan of freedom, equality and fraternity.

"I felt proud to see the picture provided by a friend in my Facebook inbox," he said. "While going to protest, I am not interested in having my photo taken by journalists, but it motivated me to continue to protest. . "

Describing the day the photo was taken, Abu Amro said that he and some friends watched the march from afar as clouds of thick smoke from tires burned by protesters and tear gas fired by the Israeli army created a thick cloud.

"This chaos has warmed me up," said Abu Amro who then rushed to Gaza's barrier separating Israel. Some have suggested that Abu Amro was motivated by despair and despair, but he said that he did not feel that way.

"I have never missed a single lesson in my weight training club and I am a Street Workout athlete," he said., "My people, my friends and I love life more than all people around the world."

Hassouna, the photographer who took the picture told Mondoweiss Abu Amro that he looked like a "Rebel for the just cause of his people."

"Abu Amro and all members of his generation do not have arms, but stones that have become an inherited part of the Palestinian culture of resistance to the occupation," Hassouna told Mondoweiss . "I am very proud to pass on this image to the world supporting Gaza. and to lovers of humanity and freedom. "

Abu Amro comes from a modest background. He lives in a 970 square foot house with his family. It's incredibly overcrowded. Although the venue of the weekly event is only three miles from home, reaching it is not an easy task. Abu Amro earns about $ 2.70 a day from his cigarette counter. "Despite my difficulties, I share half of what I bring with my family and the other half pay a taxi to come here," he said about his journey to get to events, which raises the question of why he does not take the plane. a bus, like thousands of other protesters? Abu Amro said buses are paid for by political parties and that he is independent.

"So, no one can accuse me of supporting a political faction, I come alone with my desire," he said.