- Title: MIDDLE EAST: Hamas bans 'hostile' Israeli media from working inside Gaza
- Date: 31st December 2012
- Summary: GAZA CITY, GAZA (DECEMBER 30, 2012) (REUTERS) EHAB AL-GHSAIN, HEAD OF THE HAMAS GOVERNMENT MEDIA OFFICE AT OFFICE SIGN READING EHAB AL-GHSAIN, HEAD OF THE HAMAS GOVERNMENT MEDIA OFFICE AT OFFICE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EHAB AL-GHSAIN, HEAD OF THE HAMAS GOVERNMENT MEDIA OFFICE, SAYING: "The Palestinian government decision to ban the Israeli media from working in the Gaza Stri
- Embargoed: 15th January 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Gaza, Israel
- City:
- Country: Gaza Israel
- Topics: Communications,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVABJDPJ84P4FHTFWWBBSLF7NANX
- Story Text: Hamas has decided to ban the Israeli media from working inside the Gaza Strip, claiming that media outlets portray Palestinians in a negative way.
"The Palestinian government decision to ban the Israeli media from working in the Gaza Strip came after a deep study which shows that there is no benefit from this (Israeli) media in Gaza and (it does not benefit) for the Palestinian case therefore it is a hostile media (media of the enemies) that also conveys a negative message," said Head of Hamas media office, Ehab al-Ghsain.
Israel tightened its blockade and banned Israeli journalists from entering Gaza in 2006 after Hamas, an Islamist group that refuses to recognize the Jewish state, took power of the enclave.
Israeli media depends on local Palestinians or foreign media outlets for reports from inside the battle-torn coastal strip.
Abeer Ayyoub, a 25-year-old journalist who has written for the Israeli daily newspaper paper Haaretz and for The Guardian, questioned Hamas's reasons for the ban.
"The information that we give to the Israeli media is newsy same as any journalist gives to a local, international or Israeli (agency). I do not know what kind of security news we can send. We speak about the daily news and I personally do not know what intelligence news the journalist can tell his editor who has no connection with any of the security offices in Israel," said Ayyoub.
Ohad Hemo, Israel's channel Two reporter for Arab Affairs, who frequently reports from the West Bank, said allowing Israeli media coverage from Gaza should be in the interest of Hamas.
"I think it is in the interest of the Palestinians, of the Hamas government that the Israeli public know and hear what's happening in the Gaza Strip. I can tell you that in the most recent operation, "Pillar of Cloud" (dubbed "Pillar of Defence" in English), in Gaza, we as in the Israeli media were thirsty to hear and receive pictures and voices of what's happening in the Gaza Strip, indeed an important element," said Hemo.
"I think essentially that the Hamas government is shooting itself in the leg by not permitting Palestinian journalists from transmitting material, information, reports of what is going on in the Gaza Strip from all angles, to Israel".
Hamas has so far permitted foreign reporters to operate in Gaza without restriction but recently began issuing special permits to enter the blockaded Gaza Strip. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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