Massacre against Palestinian media at the hands of Palestinians during last June
Palestinian media had not witnessed (massacre), such as this which occurred last month, in the worst violations of the terms of their size and number, at the hands of Palestinian armed groups, represented in raiding and burning of media outlets, looting and destruction of equipment, barring from broadcasting, banning printing and distribution of newspapers, arresting journalists, threatening and shooting at them.
The intensification of conflict between Fatah and Hamas movements in recent months, especially last month, resulted in serious prejudice to freedom of opinion and expression (although officials in both movements, confirmed their commitment and keenness on media freedom, but what was happening on the ground, points to the contrary), foreign journalists have abandoned Gaza Strip, Palestinian journalists became afraid of covering events, information circulation, and publishing it, in accordance with professional standards, because that would anger one of the parties, this situation has led to the emergence of the phenomenon of the rule of fear and extreme caution among journalists, who are afraid to express their opinions freely.
It also led to the suspension of some radio stations from broadcasting such as ( Sawt Alhureya (voice of freedom) and Sawt Alshabab (voice of youth), in fear for lives of their workers, some was forced to stop broadcasting such as Sawt Alomal (voice of workers), after its headquarters was occupied by executive force , the offices of Aqsa TV in the West Bank was closed after the closure decision by PA, and printing and distribution of some newspapers was stopped in West Bank, such as Felesteen daily newspaper, which is issued in Gaza Strip, after Al-Ayyam printery received a threat not to print it , some journalists fled outside Gaza Strip, for example, Arabiya channel’s correspondent Saif Al-Din Shahin, manager and the owner of Sawt Alhureya radio Majdi Arabeed, some of them disappeared from sight, others became wanted by Palestinian security services, such as Mohammed Ishtiwi Director of Aqsa TV office in West Bank (arrested on July 2 and released the next day), some media outlets asked its correspondents to be extremely cautious, fearing for their lives, Some resorted to publish news and reports without a name, others choose to sop work by themselves, or at the request of their officials, as is the case with the public media in Gaza Strip.
This grave situation has led to self-censorship enhancing among journalists, and independent media, to vertical division in local media, most of which has become affiliated either to Hamas, or emergency government appointed by Palestinian Authority, which has led to the absence of objectivity in dealing with events, few local media has maintained its neutrality.
Its Believed that most of the violations that took place in Gaza Strip were committed by armed groups of Hamas and the executive force, in West Bank by armed groups belongs to Fatah and Palestinian security services , which took the aspect of retaliation and revenge, the media outlets which had been attacked, is belonged either to Hamas or Fatah, or one of them believe it is affiliated to the other party, with exception of independent Bal Media agency office, and Sawt Alsha’b Radio (Voice of People which belong to Popular Front) in Gaza Strip, which could have been attacked for looting equipment and apparatus, as happened with Afaq TV in Nablus, some of the independent media outlets were exposed to threats and pressure, in order to promote views of two parties to the conflict, the accusation of Al-Jazeera siding with Hamas, believes that encouraged an armed group affiliated to Fatah to burn Bal Media Office in Nablus, administered by journalist Hassan Altiti, who works with Al-Jazeera also.
Many of media outlets especially radio, television stations and Electronic media news sites, which belong to Fatah and Hamas, or close to them were inciting , poured oil on the fire of differences, and turned into main tool in the conflict between the two movements in the last two years, particularly since the victory of Hamas in the legislative elections on 25th of January 2006, but it reached its peak in last month, the situation was described by Al-Hayat al-Jadidah newspaper Gaza Office Director Muneer abu Rezieq in a report published by the newspaper on June 16, 2007 as follows : ( media message for many radio stations and news& dialogue electronic sites, in addition to felesteen (Palestinian public TV) and Aqsa (Hamas TV) chandelles, reflected the nature of what is happening on the ground of fighting, each party tried to market it in media, to serve its own goals, and coverage is often far from professional or credibility).
The bloody conflict, the results sorted by it on the ground, which coincided with the attacks on journalists and the media outlets, resulted to a great and dangerous retreat in Palestinian media, which threatens of prevailing of two kinds of media, the first one
belong to Hamas or affiliated to it in Gaza Strip, and the other one belong to Fatah and the PA, or biased to it, in West Bank, which blow away all previous efforts to develop it(Palestinian media) , and will put an end to media pluralism and diversity, and the loss of its freedom, which would lead to the rule of two points of view only, This would deprive the Palestinian public to be informed about what is happening in Palestinian territories, objectively and impartially.
Mada center:
- Calls on the leadership of Fatah and Hamas movements, to instruct armed groups affiliated to them, to stop attacks on journalists and media outlets in West Bank and Gaza Strip, to restore the equipment that was confiscated from the headquarters of the various media outlets, to compensate the property which has been destroyed, estimated at millions of dollars, and enable media to work freely.
- Call on for the prosecution of all those responsible, for crimes of attacks against journalists and media outlets, and bring them to justice.
- Call on for dealing with journalists and media outlets in accordance with the law, not in accordance with the law of the jungle.
- Calls on dismissed Ismail Haneya government, and emergency government headed by Salam Fayyad, to abide by the Palestinian basic law, Printing and Publication law, and International covenants, which guarantee freedom of opinion and expression, to enable media to operate freely, without any pressure, and protect them from armed groups attacks.
- Call on journalists and media outlets to adhere to professional standards, to promote tolerance and differences resolve in Palestinian arena, by peaceful ways, and renounce violence.
- Calls on international community, to exert more pressure on the government of Israel, to stop its violations of media freedoms, the release of arrested journalists, to prosecute those responsible for crimes of attacks on journalists, and bring them to justice.
- Once again Mada welcomes the release of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston, and hopes that this will be the last kidnapping of journalists in Palestinian Territories.
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Summary monthly report (June 2007)
1.(June 1) - Palestinian television women announcers, were threatened with death, by a group called (the swords of the Islamic right in the land of Rabat), on the pretext that they wear Improper clothes, in a statement which stated (we will cut off the necks of women announcers from vein to vein if necessary, to protect the spirit and moral of this nation), this threat circulated to many of them, via messages sent to their mobile phones, in the following two days, by that group.
2. (June 3) - Israeli occupation authorities, Prevented Palestinian newspapers from entering Gaza Strip until June 29. Israel is still controlling the crossings leading to Gaza Strip.
3.(June 5) - Bal Media Center in Gaza city was raided, by armed Palestinian group, they seized all its equipment and devices.
4. (June 7) - Felesteen daily newspaper office director in West Bank Walid Khalid , was transferred to administrative detention, by Salem Israeli military court, Israeli occupation forces had arrested Khalid at May 18, 2007.
5. (June 12) - Palestinian public TV transmission station, in Gaza city, was burned, after it was raided by a group belonging to the executive force in the last hour of past day, they abducted one of its workers.
6. (June 12) - Aqsa TV office in the Albireh city (next to Ramallah)was raided, by Palestinian security services, they arrest three of its staff, they are deputy office director Cameraman Mohamed Enjas, producer Joseph Musaad, montage technician Thabet Zuoraa’.
7. (June 12) - Journalist Khader Abu Kweik, from Ramatan agency, was wounded in his face, by fragments from a stray bullet during clashes between the executive force and Palestinian security forces, during his work in the agency headquarters, in Gaza City.
8. (June 13) - Sawt Alomal radio (Voice of workers) headquarters in Gaza city, was raided by the executive force, after capturing the headquarters of the Federation of Trade Unions, the radio (belong to the federation) located in the fifth floor of the headquarters ,which led to the stoppage of broadcasting.
9. (June 13) - Mass Press office in Tulkarem city , was shoot at , by armed Palestinian group, causing material damage, the owner of the office is Mohamed Ishtiwi, who is also director of Aqsa TV in West Bank, Palestinian security services tried to arrest him in the following days, but he disappeared from sight.
10. (June 13)-Al-Thuraya company for media and artistic production office in Nablus city, was raided by armed Palestinian group, they abducted six of its staff.
11. (June 13)- Watanuna Media Center, in Jabaliya refugee camp (Gaza Strip), was raided by armed Palestinian group; they seized all its devices and equipment.
12. (June 14) - Palestinian Media Group headquarters, in Gaza city, was raided by armed Palestinian group, which led to the work suspension of its Bal Media news site.
13. (June 14) - Palestinian public television headquarters in Gaza City, was raided and captured by the executive force. the sub television headquarters, located in Ramallah city has become main one on the same day, as the management of the television changed broadcasting frequencies on the same day in agreement with officials in the Nile Sat and Arab Sat, the TV start broadcasting from Ramallah city, The head of Radio and Television corporation Basim Abu Sumaya ordered its 720 employees in Gaza Strip to stop work until further notice.
14. (June 14) - Sawt Felesteen (Voice of Palestine public radio) sub-headquarters in Gaza city, was burned, by the executive force, resulting in burning all its contents (furniture, equepent and devices). The Radio main headquarters is located in Ramallah city.
15. (June 14) – Sawt Alhureya Radio headquarters, in Gaza city, was raided by armed Palestinian group, where they seized its equipment and devices, the radio workers had abandoned its headquarters the same day, which led to the stoppage of broadcasting.
16. (June 14) – Alresllah weekly newspaper copies were confiscated and burned in Ramallah city, by armed Palestinian group affiliated to Fatah, who also threatened the driver not to distribute it , as well as the printery in Ramallah not to print it . Israeli occupation authorities had prevented the newspaper, which is published in Gaza, to enter West Bank, about six years ago.
17.(June 14)- Albian press office in Salfit town(West Bank),in which Felesteen newspaper correspondent Rasha Khofach worked, was raided, by armed Palestinian group.
18. (June 14) - Felesteen newspaper correspondent Abdullah A’dawi office in Bethlehem city, was raided, by armed Palestinian group, they sabotage some of its contents.
19. (June 14) - Alnajah for Press and Media office, in Nablus city, was raided and burned, by armed Palestinian group, Dr. Farid Abu Dhair lecturer at the Department of Journalism at al-Najah National University, is the office owner.
20. (June 14) - Alruwad Press office, where Felesteen newspaper Correspondent Mukhlis Smara worked, by Palestinian armed group, they smashed its computers.
21. (June 14) - Madar Press office windows and doors, in Nablus city, were shattered, by armed Palestinians group.
22. (June 15) - Palestinian Journalists Syndicate headquarters, in Gaza City, was raided by armed Palestinian group, they seized all its properties.
23. (June 15)- Sana local TV, in Nablus city, was raided by armed Palestinian group, they smashed all transmitters, computers, and confiscating some of its contents.
24. (June 15) - Alsalam Radio for Child Care headquarters, in Qalqilya city, was raided by Palestinian armed group, they destroyed transmitters.
25. (June 15) - Jabal Alnar (Mount of fire) Radio headquarters, in Nablus city, was raided, by armed Palestinian group, they smashed the radio transmitter.
26. (June 15) - Alhayat Al-Jadidah newspaper headquarters in al-Bireh city, was raided, by Palestinian armed group, to arrest one newspaper workers in the pretext that he belonged to Hamas.
27. (June 16) – Felesteen newspaper copies (4000) were confiscated and burned, in Ramallah city, by armed Palestinian group affiliated to Fatah, who stopped the distribution car, and attacked the driver.
28.(June 16) Al-Ayyam newspaper printery(in Ramallah city) ,was threatened by unknown, not to print the Felessteen newspaper copies for West Bank, which led to the suspension of its distribution in West Bank.
29. (June 16) – Sawt Alsha’b Radio in Gaza city, was raided, by Palestinian armed group, they seized all equipment, apparatus, and furniture, which led to the stoppage of broadcasting.
30. (June 17) - Bal Media office, run by Al-Jazeera TV correspondent Hassan Altiti, located on the first floor of his house, was raided by armed Palestinian group affiliated to Fatah, they ignited it, which resulted in the burning of all its contents (cameras, transmitter devices and the furniture), some damage was caused to upper floors, as a result of the fire smoke.
31. (June 17) – Local Afaq TV in Nablus city, was raided, by armed Palestinian group, they stole computer equipment and mobile phones, the group was arrested, and the stolen property were returned back.
32. (June 18) - Felesteen newspaper correspondent Abdel Fattah Shreim office, in Qalqilya city (west Bank) was raided, by armed Palestinian group they burned it completely, and fired at him when he drove to inspect the damage to the office, he was wounded by bullet shrapnel in the head, then he was arrested by Palestinian security services, in Rafidia hospital in Nablus city, where he was transferred to receive treatment.
33. (June 20) - Albian press office in Salfit town, was raided, by armed Palestinian group, they confiscated some of its property.
34. (June 28) - Local television and radio stations in Nablus city frequencies, were transfused, by Israeli occupation forces, during storming of the old town, they broadcast a statement which appeared on local television screens as follows : (IDF-the-IDF declared a curfew in the old town from this moment until further notice, the army advise citizens not to move in this area, movement will exposes you to risk, the Army will announce to citizens the opening of the of curfew hours for the supply of food and basic materials). It is noteworthy that the occupation forces had transfused frequencies of Nablus TV on 02/25/2006, and Sawt Alnajah radio (Voice of success), for the same purpose.
35. (June 30) - Director of Alsahel press office Khaled Ma’ali was arrested, in Salfit town, by the Palestinian security services.
Last month also witnessed continuation of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston abduction, his case Witnessed dangerous developments following the escalating tension in the conflict between Hamas and the kidnappers in the last two weeks of last month, especially after the repeated threats of his kidnappers from the so-called Army of Islam to kill him, after Hamas threatened to release him by force if necessity requests, and showing him on videotape after dressing him a belt of explosives, in which he said he will be off to any attempt to free him by force.
