Ref: 21/2008

Date: 05 March 2008

Time: 12:30 GMT   

PCHR Condemns Decision by Dismissed Government in Gaza to Prevent Correspondents of Palestine Television from Working in Gaza

PCHR strongly condemns a decision taken by the Ministry of Interior in the dismissed Palestinian government in Gaza to prevent correspondents of Palestine Television in Gaza, Sameer Khalifa and ‘Aadel al-Za’noun, from reporting from the Gaza Strip, and stop their media activities for Palestine Television. PCHR stresses that the rights to freedom of expression and to receive an impart information are essential rights ensured by the Palestinian Basic Law and international human rights instruments, and a basic foundation of democratic practice.

Sameer Khalifa, 38, correspondent of Palestinian Television, told PCHR that at approximately 16:00 on Tuesday, 4 March 2008, he received a phone call from the spokesman of the Ministry of Interior in the dismissed government, Eihab al-Ghussain, informing him that a decision was taken to prevent him and his colleague, ‘Aadel al-Za’noun, from working for Palestine Television, including stopping sending voice reports to Palestine Television. When he asked al-Ghussain about the reason of this decision, Khalifa added, al-Ghussain replied: “We turned a blind eye about your media coverage of Israeli attacks for Palestine Television, but starting from today (Tuesday), any media coverage for Palestine Television, including of Israeli attacks, will be prohibited.” When Khalifa told al-Ghussain that they do not cover internal news, al-Ghussain said: “The issue if not related to Sameer Khalifa and ‘Aadel al-Za’noun.”

It is worth noting that a number of media institutions in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip have been recently attacked, in the context of political crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territories between Fatah and Hamas movements.

PCHR condemns the decision to prevent correspondents of Palestine Television in Gaza from working particularly at this time, when their media coverage of Israeli attacks against the Gaza Strip is distinguished, and:

1)      Calls for not pushing journalists and media institutions into the political crisis between Fatah and Hamas movements.

2)      Asserts that freedom of expression is ensured by the Palestinian Basic Law and international human rights instruments.