Award-winning photographer Andrew McConnell
AN AWARD-WINNING photographer from Enniskillen is currently based in Gaza amid conflict that has seen the deaths of hundreds of civilians in the past two weeks, with thousands injured.
Israeli soldiers have mounted a ground offensive into Palestinian territory after two weeks of shelling from air and sea which, they say, is aimed at removing Hamas militants opposed to the Israeli blockade of the territory.
According to officials, more than 600 Palestinians and 29 Israelis have been killed in the past 14 days of fighting. In recent days thousands fleeing the fighting have sought sanctuary in UN refugee camps.
Andrew McConnell, an award-winning photographer from Enniskillen and a former pupil of St Michael’s College, has been based in Gaza for the past number of weeks.
Beginning his career as a press photographer before leaving to concentrate on documentary photography, Andrew has covered conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, e-waste in Ghana, the surfers of the Gaza strip, and life in Damascus during the civil war in Syria.
He has held exhibitions across the world, including in New York and London.
Andrew is working as a videographer on a documentary in Gaza, and has been posting regular updates through his Twitter account.
His tweets regarding the conflict began on July 12.
That day, Andrew tweeted: “Arrived in Tel Aviv to bomb sirens and explosions overhead as Iron Dome intercepts rockets from #Gaza. 2 in the past 10 minutes.”
He added: “Rockets fired at #Israel from Lebanon as IDF orders Palestinians living in the north #Gaza to evacuate ‘for their own safety’”.
Andrew has been updating followers with major events in the conflict.
On July 15 he tweeted: “After early morning air strikes all is quiet now in #Gaza as Israel accepts ceasefire. But Hamas says no deal”
On July 17, he said: “#Gaza being bombarded from all sides right now. Huge booms from the sea, tanks to the north and east and 16s overhead.”
Saturday and Sunday, saw him add: “Heavy bombing in north #Gaza this morning around Beit Lahiya. Continuous stream of ambulances arriving at local hospital. Many killed.
“Cheering, whistling and gunfire heard across Gaza city now as Hamas Qassam Brigades announce they have captured an Israeli soldier”.
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