Caught In The Crossfire Poem by David Clinch

Caught In The Crossfire



Caught in the crossfire?
Caught in the crossfire?
Caught in the crossfire?
It's a question

Netzarim Junction, Gaza City
Netzarim Junction, Gaza City
Netzarim Junction, Gaza City

Caught in the crossfire? No way out
Caught in the crossfire? No way out
Caught in the crossfire? No way out

Mohammed al-Durah, twelve years old
Mohammed al-Durah, twelve years old
Mohammed al-Durah, twelve years old

Caught in the crossfire? We saw him cry
Caught in the crossfire? We saw him cry
Caught in the crossfire? We saw him cry

‘For the love of God protect me Baba'
‘For the love of God protect me Baba'
‘For the love of God protect me Baba'

Caught in the crossfire? Terror revealed
Caught in the crossfire? Terror revealed
Caught in the crossfire? Terror revealed

They scream against the killing rain
They scream against the killing rain
They scream against the killing rain

Caught in the crossfire? The bullets strike
Caught in the crossfire? The bullets strike
Caught in the crossfire? The bullets strike

Dead in his father's lap he lies
Dead in his father's lap he lies
Dead in his father's lap he lies
Caught in the crossfire? Israel lies
Caught in the crossfire? Israel lies
Caught in the crossfire? Israel lies

Mohammed al-Durah,12 years old
Mohammed al-Durah,12 years old
Mohammed al-Durah,12 years old

Caught in the crossfire? Mohammed al-Durah
Caught in the crossfire? Jamal al-Durah
Caught in the crossfire? Amal al-Durah
Caught in the crossfire? Bassam al-Babesi
Caught in the crossfire? Israel lied
Caught in the crossfire? Palestine

Caught in the crossfire?
Caught in the crossfire?
Caught in the crossfire?
It's a question

Amal Al-Durah is Mohammed's mother
Bassam al-Babesi was a Red Crescent ambulance driver who was shot dead trying to save Mohammed and Jamal al-Durah.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Topic(s) of this poem: death
POET'S NOTES ABOUT THE POEM
Remembering 12 year old Muhammad Al-Durah on the 12th anniversary of his death at Netzarim Junction in Gaza City.

This is my song for the memory of Muhammad Al-Durah, written in 2003. The image is one of the most potent and disturbing I have ever seen. It haunts me still. In the next frame young Muhammad lies dead in his father Jamal's lap. The first Martyr of the New Intifada which began in October 2000.

I had the honour of performing Caught in the Crossfire at the Abu Jihad Prisoners' Museum at Abu Dis University for the Director, Fahid Abu Hajj in February 2008. I will be returning to Palestine in November and will perform the song again.

Caught in the Crossfire? ‘... I reach for my pen'
Inspired by Robert Fisk's article in the Independent Sat 2 October 2000 following the death of Mohammed al-Durah on 30 September 2000 - Spoken with bodhrán accompaniment in 6/8 time)

It's the first song I ever wrote.
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