Hamas widens crackdown on journalists in Gaza

The Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers on Wednesday imposed sweeping restrictions on journalists. They also announced plans to curb public gatherings as part of an intensifying clampdown following a huge rally by the rival Fatah movement earlier this week. Hamas widens crackdown on journalists in Gaza Gaza's Interior Ministry announced that journalists who do not hold official Hamas-issued press cards would not be allowed to work in Gaza. Under the new restrictions, a crew member from a German TV channel was briefly detained Wednesday. The restriction were announced two days after Hamas gunmen opened fire on some 250,000 people attending a rally marking the third anniversary of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, killing at least six civilians. The rally was the largest show of force by the rival Fatah movement since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in June, and the deadliest showdown in Gaza since the Hamas takeover. Hamas appears to have been shaken by the first major display of dissent. "The movement is under pressure, has lost its balance, and they are taking irrational decisions, such as restricting media coverage," said West Bank analyst Hani al-Masri. "This shows how deep the crisis is within Hamas." News organizations have resisted getting the Hamas press cards because it entails submitting to restrictions, including a vague ban on stories that do not uphold national responsibilities or cause harm to national unity. The restrictions were first enacted by Fatah in 1995 when it was in power, and was cracking down on Hamas at the time. The government will not allow any reporter or photographer to work unless they get the press card, said a statement on the Interior Ministry Web site. After the restrictions were issued, Hamas police briefly detained a cameraman for Germany's ARD TV. The cameraman, Sawwah Abu Sayef, said he was filming in the southern Gaza town of Khan Yunis when he was escorted by Hamas to a local police station. He said he was asked whether he had a press card and whom he worked for. He was released after an hour. In a statement, Hamas denied detaining the cameraman, saying police merely asked a group of journalists whom they represented. Interior Ministry spokesman Ihab Ghussen said the government is also planning as yet undefined restrictions on any rally, march or public event in Gaza. The Tel Aviv-based Foreign Press Association, representing foreign journalists in Israel and the Palestinian Authority, condemned what it called harassment of Palestinian journalists in Gaza by Hamas security forces. In a statement, the FPA also objected to the new guidelines. The authorities in Gaza are urged to respect press freedom and to allow all journalists to pursue their work without intimidation or interference, the statement said. After Monday's rally, Hamas rounded up dozens of Fatah activists. Some 30 activists were released Wednesday, including Mohammed al-Nahal, a party district leader in Gaza City. Al-Nahal said he was held for 36 hours, smacked while blindfolded and asked to sign a document stating that he would adhere to the guidelines issued by the government, including seeking permission to hold future rallies. "I refused to sign and asked them to tell me if Fatah was a banned organization so I can convey the message to my leaders," he said. "They said no, it wasn't." Hamas' efforts to cement its grip on Gaza coincides with efforts by moderate Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Israel to bridge differences ahead of a high profile summit in the U.S. this month. The conference is aimed at relaunching peace talks and bolstering Abbas in his struggle with Hamas.

Hamas widens crackdown on journalists in Gaza

Gaza's Interior Ministry announced that journalists who do not hold official Hamas-issued press cards would not be allowed to work in Gaza. Under the new restrictions, a crew member from a German TV channel was briefly detained Wednesday.

The restriction were announced two days after Hamas gunmen opened fire on some 250,000 people attending a rally marking the third anniversary of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, killing at least six civilians.

The rally was the largest show of force by the rival Fatah movement since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in June, and the deadliest showdown in Gaza since the Hamas takeover.

Hamas appears to have been shaken by the first major display of dissent.

"The movement is under pressure, has lost its balance, and they are taking irrational decisions, such as restricting media coverage," said West Bank analyst Hani al-Masri. "This shows how deep the crisis is within Hamas."

News organizations have resisted getting the Hamas press cards because it entails submitting to restrictions, including a vague ban on stories that do not uphold national responsibilities or cause harm to national unity.

The restrictions were first enacted by Fatah in 1995 when it was in power, and was cracking down on Hamas at the time.

The government will not allow any reporter or photographer to work unless they get the press card, said a statement on the Interior Ministry Web site.

After the restrictions were issued, Hamas police briefly detained a cameraman for Germany's ARD TV.

The cameraman, Sawwah Abu Sayef, said he was filming in the southern Gaza town of Khan Yunis when he was escorted by Hamas to a local police station. He said he was asked whether he had a press card and whom he worked for. He was released after an hour.

In a statement, Hamas denied detaining the cameraman, saying police merely asked a group of journalists whom they represented.

Interior Ministry spokesman Ihab Ghussen said the government is also planning as yet undefined restrictions on any rally, march or public event in Gaza.

The Tel Aviv-based Foreign Press Association, representing foreign journalists in Israel and the Palestinian Authority, condemned what it called harassment of Palestinian journalists in Gaza by Hamas security forces. In a statement, the FPA also objected to the new guidelines. The authorities in Gaza are urged to respect press freedom and to allow all journalists to pursue their work without intimidation or interference, the statement said.

After Monday's rally, Hamas rounded up dozens of Fatah activists. Some 30 activists were released Wednesday, including Mohammed al-Nahal, a party district leader in Gaza City.

Al-Nahal said he was held for 36 hours, smacked while blindfolded and asked to sign a document stating that he would adhere to the guidelines issued by the government, including seeking permission to hold future rallies.

"I refused to sign and asked them to tell me if Fatah was a banned organization so I can convey the message to my leaders," he said. "They said no, it wasn't."

Hamas' efforts to cement its grip on Gaza coincides with efforts by moderate Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and Israel to bridge differences ahead of a high profile summit in the U.S. this month.

The conference is aimed at relaunching peace talks and bolstering Abbas in his struggle with Hamas.