The Associated Press won a major journalism award for photographing Hamas gunmen parading the body of a 22-year-old woman they had killed around Gaza’s streets. The photograph has sparked a backlash on social media; opponents claim there may have been some doubt about whether the shot was suitable to share with the world at all, and that using the woman’s image was ‘an insult to Jew’.” The snapshot depicts 22-year-old Shani Louk, who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 as the organization launched its first strike on Israel. The woman is lying semi-naked in the back of a pickup truck, surrounded by armed men who appear to be celebrating the murder.
social media users said they were ‘shocked’ at the picture
According to media sources, Louk was at the Supernova music festival on October 7, when terrorists opened fire with guns and grenades, murdering 360 people and kidnapping hundreds more, largely civilians, many of whom were subjected to horrendous acts of cruelty and sexual assault. She was certified officially deceased on October 30 after a portion of her skull was discovered. However, her body remains in Gaza. According to the New York Post, the ‘Team Picture Story of the Year’ prize, conducted by the Donald W Reynolds Journalism Institute at Missouri School of Journalism, is the world’s oldest photography competition. When she viewed this picture, Aviva Klompas, who was previously the Head of Speechwriting, at Israel’s Mission to the United Nations sought punishment for the photographer for taking the photo. Other social media users said they were ‘shocked’ at the picture.
On Monday (March 25), the Palestinian militant group Hamas informed the mediators that it would adhere to the initial request for a comprehensive ceasefire, which involves the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the return of displaced Palestinians to the war-torn territory. The militant organization also called for a “real exchange of prisoners,” requesting the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons in exchange for Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
Israel has repeatedly rejected Hamas’ request for a lasting truce and complete military withdrawal, claiming that any additional hostages will be released until Israel commits to ending the war. Israel has rejected the demands of Hamas as delusional and the country has emphasised that its military campaign to destroy the military and governance capabilities of Hamas will start after the implementation of any hostage-truce deal. Nearly 130 hostages are likely to have been kept in Gaza since the October 7 attack by Hamas.
