|
Iran-backed
Hamas arrested and imprisoned British freelance journalist and
documentary filmmaker Paul Martin in Gaza on Sunday (Feb. 14). A
spokesman for the terrorist organization said Martin had "violated
Palestinian law and the security in Gaza" but provided no details of
Martin's alleged crimes.[1]
The Hamas spokesman said only that Martin would be held for 15 days but
declined to elaborate further.[2]
Martin
was in Gaza to testify on behalf of a man accused of collaborating with
Israel. From 2004 - 2007, numerous foreign journalists were kidnapped
in Gaza by various militant factions and subsequently released. Martin
has worked for the BBC and The Times of London, among other outlets.[3] The BBC's Gaza correspondent, Alan Johnston, was kidnapped in March 2007 and held for nearly four months before being released.[4]
The
Foreign Press Association in Israel issued a statement on Martin's
arrest, expressing deep concern and calling on the Palestinian
authorities in Gaza to immediately release the journalist.[5] "We
expect the Hamas as we do all parties, to respect the rights of every
journalist on assignment, to work without fear of being arrested," according to the statement.[6]
Hamas has been in control of Gaza ever since carrying out a bloody coup
against Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Party
inJune 2007.[7]
Journalists Kidnapped by Palestinian Militants in Gaza since Sept. 2004:
- March 12, 2007 - BBC
correspondent Alan Johnston is kidnapped by a Gaza-based clan calling
itself the Army of Islam. This group is thought to have ties to
al-Qaeda. Johnston's captors released a video on the Internet demanding
that Britain release several Muslim prisoners including Islamist
al-Qaeda cleric Abu Qatada.[8]
- Jan. 7, 2007 - Jaime Razuri from Agence France-Presse is kidnapped and released almost a week later. The kidnappers were not identified.[9]
- Oct. 23, 2006 - Emilio Morenatti, an Associated Press photographer, is kidnapped by unidentified Palestinian gunmen and released on the same day.[10]
- Aug. 27, 2006 - Fox News
correspondent Steve Centanni and New Zealand-born cameraman Olaf Wiig
are held for two weeks by a previously unknown group identified as the
Holy Jihad Brigades. They were released unharmed after being forced to
convert to Islam.[11]
- March 15, 2006 - Caroline Laurent, reporter for the French-language weekly ELLE; Alfred Yaghobzadeh, photographer for France's Sipa Press; and Yong Tae-Young, a correspondent for South Korea's KBS
are kidnapped from the Al-Dira Hotel in Gaza. Palestinian Security
Services claim the kidnappers are members of the Popular Front for the
Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). The journalists were released within 22
hours.[12]
- Oct. 12, 2005 - Dion Nissenbaum and Adam Pletts of Knight Ridder News Service (now McClatchy Newspapers) are abducted by renegade members of the Fatah party. The journalists were freed later that day.[13]
- Sept. 10, 2005 - Journalist Lorenzo Cremonesi of Corriere della Serra (Italy) is abducted in the town of Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. He was released the same day.[14]
- Aug.15, 2005
- Journalist Mohammad Ouathi, a French citizen of Algerian origin is
kidnapped and released a week later. No group claimed responsibility.[15]
- Jan. 8, 2005 - Ramon Lobo and Carmen Secanella, reporters for Spain's El Pais, are kidnapped briefly by Palestinian militants in Gaza's Khan Younes refugee camp.[16]
- Sept. 27, 2004 - Riad Ali, producer for CNN
is abducted at gunpoint and released the following day. Ali claims that
the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades was behind his kidnapping but the militia
has denied the allegations.[17]
[3] "British journalist detained by Hamas in Gaza," Haaretz, Feb. 15, 2010, http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1149688.html; Laub, Karin, "Hamas: British journalist ordered held for 15 days," The Associated Press, Feb. 15, 2010, http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jSihOOUUsvmMlI1Rz3JgqmTHDNsgD9DSGOT00
The Israel Projectis
an international non-profit organization devoted to educating the press
and the public about Israel while promoting security, freedom and
peace. TheIsrael Project provides journalists, leaders and opinion-makers accurate information about Israel. The Israel Project is not related to any government or government agency.
|
13
