Palestinian journalist Wisam Hashlamoun has spoken to Yeni Şafak about the powerful photo he took of a blindfolded Palestinian boy, who was arrested by 22 Israeli soldiers, which became a symbol of the Palestinian people’s third intifada that erupted following U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Symbol of resistance

Journalists are working under tough conditions amid the escalating clashes in order to try to tell the world the latest developments in the occupied Palestinian territories. Among the stream of photos and news stories that demonstrate the Palestinian people’s resistance, the photo taken by Palestinian journalist Wisam Hashlamoun became the most iconic symbol of the third intifada.

Intifada meaning to “shake off,” refers to the Palestinian attempt to shake off Israeli occupation and gain independence.

The photo, which shows a blindfolded Palestinian 14-year-old boy, who was arrested by the Israeli army in the West Bank’s Hebron by 22 soldiers, demonstrated to the world how much Israel fears the Palestinian people.

00:26 dk 11 Aralık 2017 Yeni Şafak Footage emerges of 22 Israeli soldiers arresting 14-year-old Palestinian boy It took 22 Israeli soldiers to arrest Fawzi Al - Junaidi, a 14-year -old Palestinian teenager. Footage shows the cowardly Israeli soldiers detaining the Palestinian boy with his eyes blindfolded following clashes after against Trump's decision to declare Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

‘They don’t care if you’re a journalist’

Speaking exclusively to Yeni Şafak, Hashlamoun recounted the story behind the iconic photo taken in the city of al-Khalil by saying that he had no idea it was such a powerful frame.

“Close to 50 Israeli soldiers were viciously attacking Palestinian youths during the clashes. It doesn’t matter to them if you’re a journalist. They attack everyone viciously. During the clashes I came closer to the soldiers. That boy fell to the ground and wounded his head. They pulled him to his feet and encircled him. At that moment I was trying to escape their attacks,” Hashlamoun said.

‘I wanted to expose Israeli violence’

After being on the ground to cover the events in the West Bank since their eruption, Hashlamoun is glad he took such a powerful photo, saying, “It definitely didn’t occur to me that this photo would become a symbol. All I was thinking about was exposing Israel’s violence against Palestinians that doesn’t discriminate between child, woman or the elderly. With God’s help, this photo garnered a great deal of attention.”

The boy in the photo, identified as 14-year-old Muhammad Fawzi al-Juneidi, is still under arrest.

Thousands rally in Nigeria against US Jerusalem move No fewer than three thousand Nigerian Muslims on Sunday staged a rally in the commercial capital city of Lagos to reject U.S. Donald Trump's decision to recognize of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.The protest, called by three major Muslim organizations, also urged world leaders to form a united front to confront the “unilateral and counterproductive” declaration as well as hold the US leader responsible for the violence that has broken out in the region.On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the U.S.’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s “undivided” capital and said the U.S. Embassy would relocate from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.The dramatic shift in Washington’s Jerusalem policy triggered demonstrations in the occupied Palestinian territories, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq and other Muslim countries.Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- now occupied by Israel -- might eventually serve as the capital of a future Palestinian state.“The unilateral declaration is a threat to world peace and we urge a united global action to stop it,” Lukman AbdurRaheem, president of the influential Muslim Congress (TMC), said at the rally.Displaying placards condemning the development, the protesters also called on the Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari to break his silence over the 'glaring injustice' done to the Palestinians and the Muslim world.Galeri: The world protests Trumps decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israeli capitalThey also urged local Christian leaders to get off the "erroneous belief" that Trump's action served any Christian agenda.Abdul Waheed Adetoyebi, head of Muslim Awareness International, called on world leaders to boycott the U.S. and Israel in a bid to force them to reverse the policy.“We welcome Turkey and Lebanon’s suggestion of a diplomatic boycott of Israel over this unfortunate course of action, and we strongly encourage other Arab and Muslim nations to follow suit,” Adetoyebi added.Saheed Ashafa, president of Muslim Students Society of Nigeria in Lagos, said Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israeli capital was a slap on the Muslim world and lovers of justice.“The issue is not about religion only, but also about humanity and peaceful coexistence,” Ashafa added.Over 150 injured in West Bank, Gaza protestsUS Jerusalem move slammed in African, Mideast countries

Over 150 injured in West Bank, Gaza protests More than 150 Palestinians on Sunday were injured in occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip after Israeli security forces dispersed the protests against the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.In a statement the Palestine's Red Crescent said a total of 157 people were injured during the clashes that took place in Ramallah, Tulkarim and Bethlehem cities, and Gaza Strip.Israeli forces used tear gas, live ammunition and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters. 13 people were injured in Gaza and 144 others in various parts of West Bank, it said.Palestinian groups have called for fresh mass demonstrations across the West Bank and East Jerusalem on Saturday against the U.S. recognition.Since Friday, four Palestinians were martyred and hundreds injured in clashes as well as Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip and West Bank since Friday.On Wednesday, Trump announced U.S. recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and said the U.S. Embassy would be relocated from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.The dramatic shift in Washington’s Jerusalem policy triggered demonstrations in the occupied Palestinian territories and Muslim countries.Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- now occupied by Israel -- might eventually serve as the capital of a future Palestinian state.US Jerusalem move slammed in African, Mideast countriesMacron: US move is threat to peaceTurkey condemns Netanyahu remarks against Erdoğan

He went out to get medicine!

Speaking to the press, al-Juneidi’s uncle said his family had no information about his well-being or whereabouts, noting that that the family was immensely pained.

“An unarmed 14-year-old boy was arrested like a criminal. We learned he was injured from those who saw him being detained. They’re not letting us see him. His parents are very ill. His father has undergone five surgeries. He was the sole breadwinner for his family. He went out to get medicine and food for his family,” Al-Juneidi’s uncle said, vowing to continue the fight against the occupation.

“We’re the children of Palestine. We will never accept this decision. We instilled the fact that Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine in the minds and hearts of our children. They will never be able to erase it,” he concluded.

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the U.S.’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s “undivided” capital and said the U.S. embassy would relocate from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The dramatic shift in Washington’s Jerusalem policy triggered demonstrations in the occupied Palestinian territories, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Iraq and other Muslim countries.

Jerusalem remains at the heart of the Israel-Palestine conflict, with Palestinians hoping that East Jerusalem -- now occupied by Israel -- might eventually serve as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

01:22 dk 11 Aralık 2017 Yeni Şafak Erdoğan: We won’t abandon Jerusalem to the mercy of a child-murderer state! Speaking at a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party in Turkey's Sivas, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan mentioned 14-year-old Palestinian Fawzi Al-Junaidi, a symbol of the Intifada, who was detained by 22 Israeli soldiers. “Israel is a terrorist state. We will not abandon Jerusalem to the mercy of a child-murderer state," he said. U.S. President Donald Trump last week formally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, which sparked clashes and global outrage.



