Gaza journalists sit-in for press freedom

More than a 100 reporters gathered in front of the journalists union building in central Gaza City, two days after Hamas forces briefly detained four journalists and violently broke up a rally of the rival Fatah party.

"Yes to freedom of the press!", "No to journalists arrests!", "Keep journalists out of politics!" read the banners carried by the demonstrators.

In a statement, the Jerusalem-based Foreign Press Association (FPA) urged the "relevant authorities in Gaza to allow the proper functioning of the free press. There can be no excuse for any attempt to limit this freedom."

On Friday three cameramen and an AFP photographer were briefly detained by Hamas after covering a demonstration by Hamas's rival Fatah, of president Mahmud Abbas.

Hamas forces fired in the air as they dispersed the rally and sought to detain two other cameramen, but were prevented from doing so by other journalists.

In its statement, the "FPA wishes to protest in the strongest possible terms the violent harassment of journalists covering events in Gaza on Friday."

"During the legitimate pursuit of their coverage several colleagues were physically intimidated by members of Hamas's security forces... This kind of dangerous infringement of professional journalists pursuing their duties is unacceptable."

On Saturday, dozens of Palestinian journalists rallied in the West Bank city of Ramallah against the Hamas "aggression" against their Gaza colleagues.

"It is a spontaneous initiative by journalists to make our voices heard and ensure that such aggression does not get worse," a journalist with the Al-Ayam daily, Khalil Shahin, told AFP.

Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in mid-June, overrunning pro-Fatah security forces loyal to Abbas after a week of street clashes that killed more than 100 people.

Since its takeover, Hamas has sought to break up pro-Fatah rallies and to prevent journalists from filming such gatherings.

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