Gaza Twitter War Intensifies over Pictures of Infant Casualties

Jihad Misharawi holds the body of his 11-month son, Ahmad. (Photograph: Corbis)

Gaza Twitter War Intensifies over Pictures of Infant Casualties

Pictures of BBC cameraman's 11-month-old son – who died in Gaza attack – are followed by response from Israel's PM

A grim new feud opened up on social media on Thursday as pictures were traded of babies who died or were injured during the conflict in Gaza.

Pictures emerged of BBC cameraman Jihad Misharawi's 11-month-old son Omar, who was killed on Wednesday during an Israeli attack. Misharawi's sister-in-law also died in the strike on Gaza City, and his brother was seriously injured.

Misharawi told BBC Arabic:

Shrapnel hit our house. My sister-in-law was killed along with my son. And my brother and my other son were wounded.

What did my son to to die like this? What was his mistake? He is 10 or 11 months old, what did he do?

We are not the resistance, there are no fighters in my house.

A picture of Omar was posted on Twitter by BBC Middle East bureau chief Paul Danahar.

Soon after, Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu posted what was seen as a response, tweeting this picture of a baby reportedly injured in today's rocket attack on Kiryat Malachi. "Hamas deliberately targets our children," Netanyahu wrote.

Three people were killed during the Kiryat Malachi rocket attack, and a four-year-old boy and two babies were also wounded.

Join Us: News for people demanding a better world


Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place.

We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference.

Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today!

Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.