'Iconic' image of Palestinian protester in Gaza goes viral
An image of a shirtless young protester in Gaza gripping a Palestinian flag with one hand and swinging a slingshot over his head with the other has drawn comparisons with the iconic French Revolution painting, Liberty Leading the People.
Captured on October 22 by Mustafa Hassouna of Turkey's Anadolu Agency, the photo shows 20-year-old Palestinian A'ed Abu Amro seeming to rise out of the thick of a protest against the Israeli blockade.
He appears in sharp contrast to fellow demonstrators and reporters in protective jackets behind him, all set against a background of black smoke from burning tyres. The image has been tweeted over 5,000 times.
When a Michelangelo with a camera captures David fighting Goliath in action.
— (((YousefMunayyer))) (@YousefMunayyer) October 24, 2018
Getty image by Mustafa Hassouna pic.twitter.com/MgJAbr7JwQ
Abu Amro lives in the al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Gaza City. He protests every Friday and Monday with friends.
"I was surprised this picture of me went viral," he told Al Jazeera. "I participate in protests on a weekly basis, sometimes more. I didn't even know there was a photographer near me."
Amro said that his friends sent him the image - taken in Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza - the next day, having spotted it being shared on social media.
"I don't go to protests to get pictures of me taken, but this has encouraged me to continue demonstrating," he said.
"The flag I was carrying is the same one I always hold in all the other protests I've attended. My friends make fun of me, saying it is easier to throw rocks without holding a flag in the other hand, but I got used to it.
"If I get killed, I want to be wrapped in the same flag. We are demanding our right of return, and protesting for our dignity and the dignity of our future generation."
"13th attempt to break the Gaza blockade by sea". (Photo by Mustafa Hassouna, Andalou Agency for Getty).
— Fred Oumar KANOUTÉ (@FredericKanoute) October 24, 2018
Does it look familiar, especially to the French?#FreePalestine #EndTheBlockade pic.twitter.com/hswvIWmfF9
Beautiful Image of David Vs Goliath
— Revenant410 (@revenant410) October 24, 2018
Oh the irony!
Photo of the year! Powerful stuff. https://t.co/OWSA9ufTsO
— Zaid Rahim (@zaid_rahim) October 25, 2018
I dare you to see this image and not stare contemplating all the complexity https://t.co/JdoFuLmsVH
— antonietta priolo (@antoniettampa) October 25, 2018
They say a picture speaks a thousand words ? https://t.co/Aay59eyiVG
— pádraig (@podymc) October 25, 2018
I cant stop staring at this photo https://t.co/DOsXTsJDfu
— HiMaui??? (@HiMaui) October 25, 2018
For nearly seven months, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip have protested along the fence with Israel demanding their right to return to the homes and land their families were expelled from 70 years ago.
The protesters are also demanding an end to the crippling 11-year Israeli blockade of the enclave.
courtesy : aljazeera.com
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Dhyan Chand lifetime award to be replaced by Arjuna lifetime
New Delhi, Oct 24: The sports ministry on Thursday announced the discontinuation of the Dhyan Chand Award for lifetime achievement from this year onwards and the introduction of the Arjuna Award Lifetime in its place in a bid to "rationalise" the various sporting honours of the country.
Instituted in 2002, the Dhyan Chand Lifetime Award, named after hockey wizard Major Dhyan Chand, is given to individuals in disciplines that are part of the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, among others.
In 2023, the award was given to former shuttler Manjusha Kanwar, ex-hockey exponent Vineet Kumar and kabaddi player Kavitha Selvaraj.
"The various schemes for sports awards have been rationalised wherein Arjuna Award (Lifetime) has been introduced in place of Dhyan Chand Award. To recognise the efforts of coaches at grassroots/development level, they are now eligible for the Dronacharya Award," said a ministry statement.
"The Arjuna Award (Lifetime) has been introduced and will be given for life time contribution to sports development.
"Further, to recognize the Khelo India scheme, the Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad (MAKA) Trophy will be given to the University for Overall Top Performance in Khelo India University Games," it added.
The last date for applying for the national sports awards for 2024 is November 14.
