Ref: 114/2010

The Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) is concerned over the confiscation of equipment of Hatem Omar, correspondent of the Chinese News Agency, by the Internal Security Service (ISS) in Rafah. This attack is considered a grave violation of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the freedom of the press, which are constitutionally guaranteed and protected under the relevant international standards.

According to investigation conducted by PCHR, at approximately 17: 30 on Tuesday, 21 December 2010, two ISS's members intercepted Hatem Sa'di Omar, who works as a correspondent for the Chinese News Agency, after he was doing his job at Martyr Abu Yusef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip. The ISS's members confiscated Omar's camera and mobile. As a result, he left the hospital and made many calls with officials in the government in Gaza, due to which, he took back his camera and mobile after about an hour. Omar was covering the injuries of members of Izz Eddin al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas movement, as they were shelled by the Israeli Occupation Forces in a site belonging to al-Qassam brigades in Rafah.

PCHR is concerned over confiscating Omar's equipment, and:

1. Is concerned over the continued violations of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and press freedoms. It emphasizes on the necessity of the right to protection of journalists and media, and taking the necessary measures to enable them perform their work freely in confirmation on the right to freedom of opinion and press freedoms;
2. Emphasizes that the right to freedom of opinion and expression are guaranteed under the Palestinian Basic Law and international human rights standards; and
3. Calls upon the Palestinian security services to respect the international human rights standards, the Basic Law of the Palestinian National Authority and the relevant laws.

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