Israeli forces stormed the office of Idha'at Al-Khalil (Radio Hebron) Saturday morning, confiscated equipment and damaged the office. Intelligence officers then delivered a military warrant ordering the station to close for six months due “incitement against Israel,” director of Radio Hebron, Amjad Shawar, told Ma’an.
It was the the second news outlet to be shut by Israel this month in this occupied West Bank city. The Israeli army confirmed that military forces, in operation with Israel’s internal security service, Shin Bet, and civil administration, confiscated broadcasting equipment from the station.“The al-Khalil radio station has repeatedly broadcasted content which promotes and encourages terror and acts of violence against Israeli civilians and security forces,” the army said in a statement.
The Palestinian government denounced the Israeli military raid on the station, describing it as violation of international law.Secretary-general of the Palestinian cabinet, Ali Abu Diak, said in a statement that the attack was part of Israel's policy to "oppress the voice of Palestinian rights" and to prevent publication of the truth about "the ongoing ugly crimes Israel is committing against the Palestinian people."
The closure marks the latest violation of press freedoms in the occupied Palestinian territory.Earlier this month, Israeli forces ordered the closure and ban on broadcasting from Minbar al-Hurriyya (Freedom Tribune) radio station, also located in Hebron and reportedly affiliated with Fatah.The Israeli army accused the radio station of encouraging "stabbing attacks" and "violent riots," and reporting "false and malicious claims of security forces executing and kidnapping Palestinians in order to provoke violence."
The incident came a day after a Palestinian press freedoms watchdog, MADA, condemned more than 450 violations of media freedoms since the beginning of the year.
No comments:
Post a Comment