Fatah-affiliated radio station attacked

Reporters Without Borders spoke on February 2, 2007 of an armed attack on Al Aamal, a Gaza City-based radio station operated by the Workers Union, which is linked to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's party, Fatah.

"The recent clashes in the Gaza Strip between Fatah and Hamas members were already making the work of journalists very dangerous," the organization said. "Journalists are now also the victims of targeted vandalism aimed at silencing media considered too supportive of one or other faction. President Abbas and Prime Minister Haniyeh cannot continue to turn a blind eye to these campaigns of vandalism and intimidation."

The organization said the attack on Al Aamal's studios in the northern Gaza City district of Abderrahamane was carried out by members of the Qassam Brigades (the armed wing of Hamas) and an official security force controlled by the Hamas government, adding it was told that RPG-type rockets were fired at the building, forcing the station off the air. Then gunmen stormed inside, destroying equipment and putting the antennae out of service. Fortunately, no journalist was injured in the attack.

Al Aamal was previously attacked on 12 October, when gunmen threw grenades at the entrance and ransacked the offices before fleeing.