Palestinian journalists sit-in against Hamas violations

By Xinhua

Gaza : Tens of Palestinian journalists held a sit-in Sunday in front of their union in Gaza city, protesting against increasing crackdown on the media by Hamas which holds control of Gaza Strip.


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The participants raised banners urging the journalists to unite together facing the violations committed against them and striving for freedom of expression.

“No one has the right or the courage to stop our work that tens of martyrs have fallen for the sake of it,” said Shams Oudeh, a member of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate.

On Friday, Hamas’ executive forces (EF) briefly arrested five journalists, most of them cameramen and photographers, for covering a rally held by supporters of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah movement.

Last night, the same forces which police the Hamas-run Gaza have tried to arrest Sakher Abu el-Oun, a member of the journalists’ union board, from his home but the attempt was foiled when crowds of journalists rushed to the house.

Khalil Abu Shamallah, director of Adameer center for human rights, thanked Hamas journalists for their mediation efforts that succeeded to prevent the executive forces from taking Abu el-Oun.

He said in a speech during the protest that “the struggles of the Palestinian people can not be terminated with a pen stroke,” referring to the EF decision to ban public demonstrations unless they get a permission in advance.

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