Gaza's Islamist rulers Hamas closed the offices of three media companies, including the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya television and Palestinian news agency Maan, on Thursday, employees and a Hamas spokesman said.
Hamas Attorney General Ismail Jaber told The Associated Press Thursday that he closed the Gaza Strip bureaus of satellite channel Al Arabiya and West Bank-based outlet Maan because they "spread fabricated rumors" that "harm the Palestinian national interest and resistance movements."
Al Arabiya and Maan employees said Hamas security men had arrived at their offices with an order from the attorney general to shut down immediately and a Hamas spokesman said the step was temporary, until an investigation was concluded.
"The attorney general received complaints, including from the Ministry of Information, that Al Arabiya and Maan reported false news, fabrications and lies," said Hamas government spokesman Ehab al-Ghsain.
Ghsain did not single out any news reports, but Hamas officials have in the past few days criticised coverage by Al Arabiya and Maan of the Islamist group's tense relations with Egypt's new rulers as "damaging" to the Palestinian people.
Hamas closes 2 media offices in Gaza for criticism - Israel News, Ynetnews
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Hamas Attorney General Ismail Jaber told The Associated Press Thursday that he closed the Gaza Strip bureaus of satellite channel Al Arabiya and West Bank-based outlet Maan because they "spread fabricated rumors" that "harm the Palestinian national interest and resistance movements."
Al Arabiya and Maan employees said Hamas security men had arrived at their offices with an order from the attorney general to shut down immediately and a Hamas spokesman said the step was temporary, until an investigation was concluded.
"The attorney general received complaints, including from the Ministry of Information, that Al Arabiya and Maan reported false news, fabrications and lies," said Hamas government spokesman Ehab al-Ghsain.
Ghsain did not single out any news reports, but Hamas officials have in the past few days criticised coverage by Al Arabiya and Maan of the Islamist group's tense relations with Egypt's new rulers as "damaging" to the Palestinian people.
Hamas closes 2 media offices in Gaza for criticism - Israel News, Ynetnews
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