There Goes Freedom of the Press

Hamas disbands journalists union amid continuing incidents

Reporters Without Borders Thursday condemned Hamas’ decision on 3 September to dissolve the Gaza Strip branch of the Union of Palestinian Journalists, most of whose members are affiliated to Fatah or support it.

At the same time, Hamas has decided to create a Government Committee for the Media. Hamas deputy information minister Abu Hashish said on 3 September that the government would refuse to talk to the union ‘as long as the journalists are incapable of restoring order in it.’ Hamas spokesman Tahir Al Nunu, who heads the new Government Committee for the Media, announced later the same day that the union was being disbanded. This decision comes after widespread criticism of abusive treatment of journalists by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The union, most of whose leaders fled to the West Bank after the Hamas takeover in June, has already been targeted on several occasions by the Hamas paramilitary Executive Force.