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The Palestinian journalist bloc has documented the hardships that the Palestinian people are suffering, reflected in the difficult and unfortunate situation of Palestinian media. With the recent Hamas-Fatah infighting and events in Gaza, Palestinian media organizations have become an easy target for those who want to vent their anger and revenge. In the West Bank, literally a massacre took place against Palestinian media organizations and journalists at the same time that scores of international journalists managed to enter the Gaza Strip due to the relaxed atmosphere and security provided there without any attacks against them. The following attacks were documented by the bloc: Israeli attacks 1)On the 1st of June, 2007, Israeli troops attacked and beat up a group of Palestinian photojournalists who were covering a peaceful protest that took place south of Bani-No'em village, located east of Hebron city in the southern West Bank. 2)On the 7th of June, 2007, an Israeli court sentenced the West Bank office director of a Palestinian newspaper, Walid Khalid, to administrative detention. 3)On the 27th of June, 2007, Israeli forces invading the northern West Bank city of Nablus attacked local radio and television stations in the city, taking over the broadcasting airwaves and using them to issue military orders. Palestinian attacks 1)On the 1st of June, 2007, a group calling itself the Swords of Righteousness issued a statement threatening to attack the employees of the Palestinian national satellite channel. 2)On the 5th of June, 2007, a group of gunmen attacked PAL Media, a Palestinian media service corporation, in the Gaza Strip. 3)On the 11th of June, 2007, gunmen attacked the headquarters of the Palestinian national television station in Gaza City and burned it to the ground. 4)On the 13th of June, 2007, a group of gunmen attacked Watna Media Centre, run by the Fatah movement in Jabaliya refugee camp north of Gaza City. The gunmen stole all of the centre's equipment and other belongings. 5)On the 13th of June, 2007, unknown gunmen set fire to the house of Deputy Minister of Information, Dr. Hassan Abu Hasheesh. The house, located in Gaza City, was totally destroyed. 6)On the 13th of June, 2007, gunmen from the Fatah movement stormed a media services office in Turkarim city in the northern West Bank. The office belonged to Mohammed Ishtawi, the director of Al Aqsa satellite channel, a Palestinian Hamas-influenced channel. The gunmen also opened fire on Ishtawi, though he managed to escape unharmed. 7)On the 14th of June, 2007, the headquarters of Sout Al Hurria (voices of freedom) radio station in Gaza City were attacked by unknown gunmen who destroyed furniture and stole belongings from the building. 8)On the 14th of June, 2007, gunmen barged into the Palestinian television newsroom in Gaza City and damaged the office. 9)On the 14th of June, 2007, gunmen attacked the PAL Media office in central Gaza City, destroying furniture, computers and broadcasting equipment. The PAL Media website is still offline as a result of the attack. 10)On the 14th of June, 2007, the office of Su'od Abu Ramadan, a German television correspondent based in Gaza City, was hit with live rounds during Hamas-Fatah infighting in the city. The office reported damage but no injuries. 11)On the 14th of June, 2007, gunmen said to be Fatah activists attacked the Al Ruwad media centre in the West Bank, taking all of the office computers and destroying the furniture. 12)On the 15th of June, 2007, unknown gunmen attacked the headquarters of the journalism association in Gaza City, taking computers, electronic devices and furniture. The gunmen then set the building on fire. 13)On the 15th of June, 2007, Fatah gunmen attacked the Sana'a television in the city of Nablus in the northern West Bank, destroying furniture and stealing equipment. 14)On the 15th of June, 2007, unknown gunmen attacked Al Salam radio, a radio station for children located in the northern West Bank city of Qalqilia, destroying furniture and stealing equipment. 15)On the 15th of June, 2007, Fatah gunmen attacked the Jabal Al Nar radio station in Nablus city, destroying broadcasting equipment and stealing computers. 16)On the 16th of June, 2007, Yassar Abd Rabuh, Secretary-General of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), publicly attacked Al Jazeera satellite channel and accused it of being a Hamas partner and aide to the situation in Gaza, stating that he will personally pursue the satellite channel and expose its policies. 17)On the 17th of June, 2007, Fatah gunmen attacked Hassan Al Titi, an Al Jazeera cameraman in Nablus, setting fire to the first floor of his house and totally destroying his cameras and equipment. The fire also destroyed broadcasting equipment belonging to PAL Media located in his house. 18)On the 17th of June, 2007, Fatah gunmen opened fire on Afaq television in Nablus city. 19)On the 17th of June, 2007, Sout Al Sha'b radio station, a leftist radio station located in Gaza City, was attacked by unknown gunmen who destroyed equipment and stole furniture. 20)On the 18th of June, 2007, Fatah gunmen set fire to the office of Azzam Shrayim, a journalist working for Palestine daily newspaper, totally destroying his office. When Shrayim went to his office to assess the damage, the gunmen opened fire on him, causing him slight injuries. He was then moved to Rafiti hospital in Nablus where he was arrested by Palestinian police. 21)On the 24th of June, 2007, security forces kidnapped Yazid Khader, a freelance journalist in the West Bank. 22)On the 27th of June, 2007, Fatah issued a statement attacked the Al Jazeera satellite station and its reporters in Palestinian areas. 23)On the 30th of June, 2007, security forces arrested Khalid Ma'ali, a freelance journalist in Salfit City in the northern West Bank. Demands and recommendations from the Palestinian journalist bloc 1)Human rights and freedom of press organizations should intervene to pressure all parties to stop the attacks against journalists and media organizations. 2)All parties with a role in attacking journalists or media organizations should be brought to justice. 3)All parties in Palestine should stop the attacks on journalists and media organizations. 4)Veteran BBC reporter Alan Johnston should be immediately released. 5)Security forces should provide a safe working environment as is the case now in the Gaza Strip. Translated by: R.P & Ghassan Bannoura |