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Hamas’s interior ministry has adopted new rules restricting the reporting of foreign journalistse. According to the new rules, foreign journalists would have to apply to Gaza’s interior ministry in advance, and processing “could take several days”. The application process also requires foreign journalists to name a “guarantor” in the Gaza strip. According to government officials, the news regulations are necessary for “security and control purposes.”
The Gaza Strip correspondent for France 24, Salama Atallah, has claimed that he was interrogated by Hamas security officials on 26 June. According to Atallah, threats, insults and beatings were used in an attempt to obtain further information about a Salafist group he had been reporting on in Gaza. Prior to this, Atallah had been questioned three times in the month of June and he has recently announced that he will undergo a fifth interrogation on 30 June.
Activists have attacked the Army Radio with a bizarre phone message scam, reports Daniella Peled
Hamas security officers in Gaza harassed and attacked journalists covering recent protests. At least five journalists were attacked by police while covering peaceful protests commemorating Land Day on Wednesday (30 March). Journalists also had their equipment seized and confiscated. Later, in response to recent criticism, officials from Hamas’s Interior Ministry announced that they would no longer detain or harass journalists without formal charges.