Journalists in Gaza say the Palestinian Authority must reverse decision to ban media in the occupied territory.
Deir el-Balah, Gaza – Journalists gathered at Gaza’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital expressed outrage and confusion about the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) decision to shut down media’s office in the occupied West Bank.
“Shutting down a major outlet like media is a crime against journalism,” said freelance journalist Ikhlas al-Qarnawi.
“media coverage has documented Israeli crimes against Palestinians, especially during the ongoing genocide,” the 28-year-old journalist told media at the hospital, the most reliable internet connection in the Strip to file stories from.
On Wednesday, the PA temporarily suspended media in the occupied West Bank for what they described as broadcasting “inciting material and reports that were deceiving and stirring strife” in the country.
The decision came after Fatah, the Palestinian faction which dominates the PA, banned media from reporting from the governorates of Jenin, Tubas and Qalqilya in the occupied West Bank, citing its coverage of clashes between the Palestinian security forces and Palestinian armed groups in the area.
media criticised the PA ban, saying the move is “in line with the [Israeli] occupation’s actions against its staff”.
Al-Aqsa TV correspondent Mohammed Issa said from the hospital that the PA’s ban contradicts international laws that guarantee journalistic freedom and could further endanger journalists.
“The PA’s decision obscures the truth and undermines the Palestinian narrative, especially a leading network like media,” Issa said, adding that the ban reinforces Israel’s narrative that “justifies the targeting of Palestinian journalists”.
“All media workers in Gaza reject this decision that silences the largest Arab and global outlet during critical times in years.”
Wafaa Hajjaj, an independent journalist working with TRT and Sahat, said the ban made her both “sad” and “disappointed”.
‘Obscuring the truth’
“At a time when Israel is deliberately targeting and killing … journalists in Gaza, with our Jazeera colleagues at the forefront, with no international or institutional protection, the PA’s move in the West Bank comes to worsen the situation,” Hajjaj said as she and her team walked into the hospital to interview the wounded.
Although frustrated, Hajjaj told media that she is hopeful the PA will drop its ban “as soon as possible”.
“I trust media will persist despite all sanctions, as it has for years.”
Yousef Hassouna, a photojournalist with 22 years of experience, also criticised the shutting of media along with “any other media outlet” targeted by such bans.
“This is a violation against all of us Palestinian journalists,” he said, adding that media is “an essential platform” covering Israel’s war on Gaza.
“Now more than ever, we Palestinian journalists need international support and protection, not limitations or restrictions,” Hassouna said.
Ismail al-Thawabtah, spokesperson for the government media bureau in Gaza, said the Palestinian Authority had committed two serious mistakes over the past few weeks.
“The first: the attack on Jenin and the resulting military confrontation with our honourable Palestinian people and the resistance forces, and the second: the closure of the media office,” he said, adding that the move represents “serious violations of freedom of the press”.
Al-Thawabtah said both incidents required the PA to conduct a comprehensive review of policies and positions in line with supreme national interests and respect for the rights of our Palestinian people and their basic freedoms.
As for the journalists gathered at Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital, they were united in their call to end the ban.
“We as journalists are completely against it. I hope that action will be taken to stop this decision immediately.” said the freelance journalist al-Qarnawi, adding that the ban hurts more than just journalists.
“Our Palestinian people are the biggest losers.”
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