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Israel draws Twitter ire after blaming Hamas for medic's death
Social media users have scorned a tweet released by the Israel's military that blamed Hamas for the death of a 21-year old volunteer paramedic last week, instead of the Israeli soldiers who shot her dead.
The tweet, which reads, "Hamas' use of human shields must stop", shows a video cut off mid-sentence, with subtitles claiming to depict the killed paramedic saying: "I am Razan al-Najjar. I am here on the frontlines and I act as a human shield."
The video claims that "this medic was incited by Hamas to give up her life for their goals". Palestinians pointed out her speech was part of a much longer interview which had been deliberately edited to take out a key part.
"I am the paramedic Razan al-Najjar. I'm a human shield as a rescuer for the injured on the frontlines."
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Najjar, a volunteer with the ministry of health, was shot by Israeli forces on the eastern border of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip earlier in the week.
She was wearing a white medical jacket when she was shot in the chest and died, eliciting widespread outrage from across the world at soldiers' targeting of civilians and medics.
The paramedic, who worked with the ministry of health, helped treat protesters injured by Israel live fire.
People did not take kindly to the doctored tweet and were quick to call out the Israeli military.
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Israeli security forces have killed over 129 Palestinians since protests began March 30.
Dubbed the "Great Return March", the demonstrations have have centred on a demand for the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes, after they were expelled following the 1948 creation of Israel.
The demonstrations and violence peaked on May 14 when at least 61 Palestinians were killed when Gazans protested the US transfer of its embassy in Israel to the disputed city of Jerusalem on the same day.