Ramallah – 20th November 2013: the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) welcomes the decision of Mr. Ismael Hania, head of  Hamas government in Gaza Strip withdraw the complaint against Alarabiya TV yesterday, and Ma’an Agency three days ago (16th November 2013), and we hope that the reopening of the offices will lead to enhancing media freedoms in Gaza. 

The Attorney General's adviser in Gaza, Ismail Jabr has issued an order based on a complaint by the government on Thursday 25th July 2013 to close the offices of Ma’an and Alarabiya in the Gaza Strip on a temporary basis under the pretext of (Fabrication of News and spreading fabricated rumours and unreal information that is not based on the source of truth that threatens national peace and harms the Palestinian people and its resistance). And then the police detectives confiscated their keys and staffs were banned from entering the offices on 29th July 2013. 

 MADA demand again for freedom of expression to be respected in Palestine, a right guaranteed in article 19 of the Palestinian basic law, and to create an enabling environment for the journalists and the media outlets to work freely and safely, whether in Gaza or the West Bank.