Viral Palestinian protester’s photo being compared to French Revolution painting

 

A picture of a shirtless Palestinian protester carrying the Palestinian flag in one hand and swinging a slingshot over his head with the other is being compared with the iconic French Revolution painting, Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix.

The picture, captured by Mustafa Hassouna of Turkey's Anadolu Agency, shows 20-year-old A'ed Abu Amro rising out of the thick of a protest against the Israeli blockade.

Speaking to Al-Jazeera Amro, who resides in the al-Zaytoun neighbourhood in Gaza City, said he protests every Friday and Monday with friends.

"I was surprised this picture of me went viral," he said. "I participate in protests on a weekly basis, sometimes more. I didn't even know there was a photographer near me."

"I don't go to protests to get pictures of me taken, but this has encouraged me to continue demonstrating," he said.

Amro further 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," he added.

Protests along the Gaza border have intensified after the launch of Great March of Return protests.

According to Al Jazeera, more than 200 Palestinians have been martyred in Israel fire since a renewed wave of protests began on March 30.