Diplomats call for probe into journalist's shooting

British diplomats called today for a full investigation into the fatal shooting of an award-winning journalist by Israeli troops.

Cameraman James Miller was in the volatile town of Rafah, near the Egyptian border, when he was shot in the neck last night by an Israeli army tank, according to reports.

Britain's Foreign Office in London confirmed that Mr Miller had been shot in Gaza, adding that his next of kin had been informed.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office told PA News: “We are in contact with the Israeli authorities and pushing for a full and transparent investigation.

“Our sympathy lies with the family.”

Witnesses said the British journalist was filming the Israeli army's house demolitions in Rafah when an Israeli tank opened fire.

The television crew was waving a white flag while filming and walking towards the tank at the time Mr Miller was shot, according to another British journalist named only as Dan.

Israeli army spokesman Captain Jacob Dallal said he believed Mr Miller was hit as his troops fired in defence.

He told Israeli newspaper Haaretz that the army were uncovering tunnels used by Palestinian militants to smuggle weapons from Egypt.

“Our forces found a tunnel at the house in question, when an anti-tank missile was fired at them. They shot back at the source of the attack,” said Captain Dallal.

“James Miller was apparently hit during that exchange. The Israeli military expresses sorrow at a civilian death, but it must be stressed that a cameraman who knowingly enters a combat zone, especially at night, endangers himself.”

He was taken away from the scene in an Israeli armoured vehicle, but died before he could be evacuated by helicopter, Captain Dallal said.

The reporting team was working on a documentary for the American HBO network about the impact of terrorist action on children.

A spokeswoman for HBO said they hadn’t had any official confirmation of Mr Miller’s death.

She said: “He was a film maker who was working for us in Gaza. It’s devastating news.”

Mr Miller was internationally respected for his documentary work.

It included Beneath the Veil, about life under the Taliban, which won Royal Television Society awards, and Innocents Lost for Channel Four, an Emmy-winning investigation into human rights abuses against children throughout the world.

He was the third foreigner to be injured or killed in Rafah in recent weeks.

On April 11, British peace activist Tom Hurndall, 21, was shot in the head at the Rafah refugee camp. He is in a coma.

Witnesses said Mr Hurndall was shot by an Israeli soldier in a military watchtower as he stooped to pick up a Palestinian girl and carry her to safety. The army said it was investigating the shooting.

American Rachel Corrie, 23, died on March 16 in Rafah when an Israeli bulldozer she was trying to block ran her over. The army said the bulldozer operator did not see her.