Israel Attacks and Closes Palestinian Press Office

Al-Quds, MINA – Israel closed Palestinian TV office and several institutions in the occupied city of Al-Quds after storming and confiscating files and surveillance cameras on Wednesday.

“Israeli police raided Palestinian TV office, and posted a notice issued by Israeli Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan to the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation (PCB) to close its office for six months,” the WAFA correspondent reported as quoted by MINA.

In addition to seizing material from the media office, Israel arrested its director, Ayman Abu Rumoz and a Palestinian TV correspondent Christine Rinawi for further interrogation.

Israeli Minister of Public Security accused the PCB of broadcasting content intended to incite viewers towards Israel and was funded directly by Palestinian Authority (PA) illegally.

Palestinian Media Forum condemned Erdan’s decision, calling it a violation of press freedom, and linking it to the recent case of a Palestinian journalist who was injured while covering in the occupied West Bank.

The PCB called on international institutions concerned with freedom of speech, including the United Nations, to condemn and reject the decision by suing Israel for violations of its freedom of press.

This confirms that Palestinian TV, Radio Voice of Palestine and all official Palestinian media will not be intimidated by the closure and will continue their national mission, to uncover the truth and expose Israeli crimes against Palestinian people. (T/Sj/P2)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)