Killing of Rouzan al-Najjar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rouzan al-Najjar
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| Born | 13 September 1997 Khuza'a, Khan Yunis, Gaza Strip
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| Died | 1 June 2018 (aged 20) |
| Cause of death | Gunshot |
| Occupation | Nurse |
| Known for | Aiding injured Palestinian protesters |
Rouzan al-Najjar (Arabic: روزان أشراف عبد القادر النجار) was a Palestinian nurse and paramedic. She was born on September 13, 1997, and sadly passed away on June 1, 2018. Rouzan was volunteering as a medic during protests near the border fence in Gaza when she was shot.
She was trying to help people who were hurt. At first, the Israeli army said she might have been hit by accident. However, human rights groups and later investigations said she was shot on purpose.
Rouzan was the oldest of six children. She lived in a village called Khuzaa, which is very close to the border with Israel.
The Israeli army released a video clip that seemed to show her saying she was a "human shield" for a group called Hamas. But later, it was found that the video was edited. In the full, unedited video, she said she was a "rescuing human shield to protect and save the wounded." She did not mention Hamas. Many people criticized the army for changing the video.
Witnesses said that Rouzan and other medics were wearing white vests and had their hands up. They were trying to reach a wounded protester near the border fence when she was shot.
A United Nations investigation in 2019 looked into what happened. It found that Israeli soldiers might have committed war crimes. The report said that many children, journalists, and medics, including Rouzan, were killed. This happened even though they were easy to identify as non-threats.
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Early Life and Education
Rouzan's father used to work in Israel. But then, rules changed, and he could no longer travel across the border for work. He then worked as a motorbike mechanic in Gaza. At the time of Rouzan's death, he was unemployed.
Her family lived in an apartment given to them by relatives. Their home was very close to the border. A tall concrete wall was built in their area. This wall was meant to protect people from Israeli fire.
Rouzan grew up seeing three wars. These included conflicts in 2008-2009, 2012, and 2014. Her neighborhood was badly damaged in the 2014 conflict. Her family did not have enough money for her to go to university. Instead, she studied calligraphy and took nursing courses.
Volunteering as a Medic
After her training, Rouzan became a paramedic at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. She joined the Palestinian Medical Relief Society. This is a non-governmental group that helps with health care.
She wore the white coat and vest of a medic. She carried bandages and helped people hurt during protests. These protests happened at the border fence between Gaza and Israel.
Her mother said that Rouzan went to every protest on Fridays. She would be there from early morning until late evening. She often came home with blood on her clothes from helping the wounded. Even before she died, Rouzan was well-known in Gaza. Local news often shared her pictures online. These photos showed her helping injured young people.
Rouzan felt that the Israeli army was targeting her. Months before she died, she told Al Jazeera that soldiers had shot near her many times. She believed they were warning her not to help the wounded.
She was 21 years old when she died. Rouzan was a regular presence at the Khan Younis protest camp. She often spoke about her role. She was proud that a woman could be brave in such dangerous situations. She once said, "In our society, women are often judged. But society has to accept us. If they don't want to accept us by choice, they will be forced to accept us because we have more strength than any man."
Rouzan's Death
Many medical workers were hurt or killed during the border protests. This happened between March and June 2018. Israeli snipers shot about 25 Gaza medical staff and first responders.
On June 1, 2018, Rouzan was working as a first responder. It was the third Friday of Ramadan. About 3,000 protesters were near the fence. Rouzan was one of five paramedics on duty.
Her team took many safety steps. They wore white jackets with bright stripes. They moved in groups towards injured people. They held their hands above their heads. They also shouted, "Don't shoot. There are wounded." This was to make sure soldiers knew they were medics.
Rouzan and her team went to help a man who was hurt by a tear-gas canister. He was calling for help about 20 meters from the border fence. Three shots were heard. Rouzan was hit. A relative helped carry her to an ambulance.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights investigated her death. They found that Rouzan was clearly marked as a paramedic. They also said she "did not pose an imminent threat" to the Israeli forces when she was shot. The report concluded that there were "reasonable grounds to believe that Israeli snipers intentionally shot health workers." This happened even though they were clearly marked as medics.
Thousands of people in Gaza attended Rouzan's funeral. Many medical workers were there too. Her body was wrapped in a Palestinian flag. Her father carried her blood-stained medical jacket.
Investigation by B'Tselem
A human rights group called B'Tselem also investigated Rouzan's death. They concluded that Israeli soldiers shot her on purpose. A paramedic named Rami Abu Jazar was with Rouzan when she was killed. He told B'Tselem that he saw two Israeli soldiers aiming their guns at the medics. He said they were "taking a sniper stance." Rami Abu Jazar himself was shot in the knee. He also said that no protesters were near the medics during the attack.
B'Tselem stated that the facts showed Rouzan was fatally shot by a soldier who aimed directly at her. This happened even though she was about 25 meters from the fence. She was wearing a medical uniform and posed no danger to anyone.
United Nations Response
On June 2, 2018, several United Nations agencies spoke about Rouzan's death. They said they were very sad about it. They called her a "clearly identified medical staffer." They also said that killing a nurse was "particularly wrong." The UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process tweeted, "Medical workers are #NotATarget!" This means medical staff should never be attacked.
On June 1, a UN Security Council resolution was proposed. It aimed to criticize Israel for using "excessive, disproportionate and indiscriminate force" against Palestinian protesters. However, the United States used its veto power, and the resolution did not pass.
Military Investigation
The Israeli military spokespersons said they would investigate the shooting. They had previously warned that anyone approaching the fence might be killed. The protests were called "peaceful" by Gazans and "riots" by Israelis.
In October 2018, it was reported that the Israeli military's legal team rejected earlier findings. Those findings said Rouzan was not shot on purpose. Instead, a criminal investigation into her death would be opened.
New York Times Investigation
On December 30, 2018, New York Times published a detailed investigation. They worked with a group called Forensic Architecture. They used a 3D map to find where the shots came from. This helped them understand what happened.
Reporters collected over 1,000 pictures from the site. They also used 30 cellphone videos. This helped them map the medics' movements. They talked to witnesses, medical officials, and Israeli government spokespeople. They wanted to see if the shooting was a war crime.
They concluded that Rouzan was killed by a bullet from an Israeli sniper. The bullet was fired into a crowd that included medics in white coats. They found that "neither the medics nor anyone around them posed any apparent threat of violence."
A writer for the Times said that Rouzan's killing seemed "reckless at best." He also said it was "possibly a war crime." An expert on war laws, Ryan Goodman, said that military personnel should never fire at medics on purpose. He stated that this action "crosses the line."
Commemoration
In November 2018, a group called the Palestine Advocacy Project put up a billboard. It was on a highway near Boston, Massachusetts. The billboard honored Rouzan al-Najjar. It had her picture and said, "Honoring the First Responders of Gaza. Saving Lives. Rescuing Hope." The company that owned the billboard later took it down. This happened after some people complained about it.
See also
In Spanish: Razan al-Najar para niños
