By KUNA,
Paris : An international press freedom organization condemned Hamass closure of “Voice of the People”, a radio station operated by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), in Gaza earlier this month.
Reporters Without Borders said in a statement that “The Islamist party Hamas must stop arbitrarily targeting news media just because they do not blindly relay its propaganda.” “Press freedom is under serious threat in the Gaza Strip and this due largely to the behaviour of Hamas,” it affirmed.
Reporters Without Border quoted the PFLP spokesman Quayed El Ghoul as saying that “Hamas security forces raided the radio station without any warning. They then told the stations staff that the station was banned from broadcasting and was closed by decision of the interior ministry.” He added “There are no grounds for acting in this manner and we call on our Hamas brothers to rescind this decision and to allow a respite for free expression. Acting like this is contrary to press freedom and free speech.” The stations closure comes following a wave of arrests on July 25 that followed a car bombing that killed five Hamas supporters and a girl. Several journalists were among those arrested, including Sawah Abu Saif, a cameraman who works for German TV station ARD. He was freed five days later.