RAMALLAH – Palestinian journalists Sunday protested in several West Bank cities in solidarity with their colleagues whose offices were bombed by Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip. Abdulnasser Al-Najjar, the head of Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, said that dozens of journalists organized sit-ins in the cities of Ramallah, Nablus, Bethlehem and Hebron in solidarity with their colleagues who were wounded during the targeting of their offices in the Gaza City. The Israeli jets targeted the Al-Shawwa building which houses the pro-Hamas Al-Quds television, along with the local offices of Germany's ARD, Kuwait TV and the Italian RAI and other foreign press organizations. The jets also struck Al-Shurouq building in the city which houses the Sky News Arabia and Al-Arabiya satellite televisions. Eight journalists were injured in the first strike, including Khader Al-Zahhar who lost his leg, but no injuries were reported in the second strike. Palestinian sources said that the attack halted radio broadcasting in the area. The Israeli army spokesman's unit said “the Air Force knocked out the transmission antenna used by Hamas to carry out terror activity.” The spokesman also has confirmed that the army has begun to occasionally take over radio waves used by Hamas so as to communicate with Gaza's residents. Among other things, the army uses the medium to request Palestinians stay away from areas destined to be bombarded by Israeli jets. Al-Najjar described the Israeli strikes as “unethical and unacceptable violations against Palestinian journalists and journalism institutions.” The journalists carried sings against the Israeli strikes and in solidity with their colleagues. “No for the targeting of journalists”, “Partners in the profession and partners in the fate”, “You won't silence us”, “Khader Al-Zahhar's leg is stronger than your rockets,” some of the signs read. For its part, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) condemned the Israeli attacks against Journalists in Gaza. Sa'eb Erekat, a member of the PLO's Executive Committee and head of its Negotiations Department, condemned “in the strongest terms, the latest Israeli attacks against media outlets and journalists in the Gaza Strip by Israeli occupation forces.” “Last Thursday, the Israeli government Spokesperson said that there is no free media in Gaza, which is an insult to the brave journalists covering the situation from there. It would now seem that some Israelis want to make sure that there is no free media in Gaza,” Erekat said in a statement. He added that “this is not the first time that Israel has deliberately targeted journalists or buildings used by local and international media. This latest attack, and indeed the wider Israeli aggression against our people in Gaza, has been permitted by the impunity granted to Israel by the international community.” Erekat called upon the international community to “take an active role in protecting Palestinian civilians. This attack on journalists and freedom of expression reflects Israel's disdain for international law and the little value it affords the lives of Palestinians.”
