Ismail Haniyeh honours martyred, wounded journalists

Wednesday, 28 November 2012, 1:06 pm
Press Release: Palestinian Government in Gaza

26 November 2012

At an event in Gaza City today organised by the Government Media Office to honour the journalists killed and wounded by Israel during the so-called Operation Pillar of Defence, Imad Al Franji, head of al-Quds TV, spoke on behalf of all of the shelled media offices in Gaza.

Click for big version.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh presenting posthumous awards to the families of martyred journalists

Al Franji said they will renew their demand that the International Federation of Journalists cancels Israel’s membership, and that IFJ send a delegation to Gaza to investigate Israeli crimes against the media during the recent offensive.

“Do not kill Palestinian journalists twice, once by Israeli rockets, and the second time by international silence about these crimes leaving Israel unaccountable for them,” he pleaded.

Yasser Abul Heen, President of the Palestinian Journalists’ Union, celebrated today’s resignation of Ehud Barak as a potent symbol of Palestinian victory.
Abu Heen advised that a delegation of journalists from 40 unions in the Arab Jounalists Union will arrive in Gaza on Thursday to see the Israeli crimes with their own eyes, and assist in holding Israel to account for them.

The father of martyred journalist Hossam Salama broke down in tears as he asked the international media how they could stand by and watch as women and children were killed, and his son was burning.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh expressed his appreciation for the great work done by journalists during the eights days of Israeli attacks on Gaza.

Haniyeh said that the Palestinian media conquered the Israeli media, in the same way that the Palestinian Resistance conquered the Israeli armed forces.
“Dear journalists and media persons, you are heroes,” he said. “You moved around under fire and the sound of drones and F-16s to find and expose the truth.”

The Prime Minister announced a one-year exemption from licence fees for television and radio stations, in recognition of their valuable contribution to the Palestinian victory.

Translation: Fatma Al Hasham

ENDS

World Headlines

WORLD > >

Bangladesh: New Safety Agreement between Garment Industry and Workers

The United Nations labour agency today welcomed an agreement signed by international fashion brands and retailers, and trade unions to prevent workplace disasters. “The need for urgent improvement in workplace safety requires the industry to work together to implement a scalable and transparent plan of action... More>>

Pakistan: UN Secretary-General Hails Successful Elections In Pakistan

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has congratulated the Government and people of Pakistan on the successful conduct of national and provincial elections, hailing the polls, for which millions of voters turned out, as a major democratic step. More>>

United States: Monsanto Wins U.S. Supreme Court Case Over GM Soybean

Agricultural biotechnology company Monsanto won a patent infringement claim in the U.S. Supreme Court on 13 May 2013 against an Indiana farmer who planted genetically modified soybean seeds in violation of his agreement with Missouri-based multinational. More>>

Egypt: Risks Drifting Further Away From Human Rights Ideals

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Thursday urged the Egyptian Government to take steps to ensure that the current version of a draft law on civil society organizations is laid open to careful examination by Egyptian and international human rights experts, and, based on their advice, is brought into line with international standards, before it is adopted by the Shura Council. More>>

Fiji Military Government Unnerved By Union Info Campaign

Fiji's Military rulers have reacted angrily to an international union campaign to raise awareness over the stripping away of workers' rights in the Pacific nation. More>>

ALSO:

Image Martin Doyle - Martin Doyle Cartoon: Fiji Worth A Bash

West Papua: U.S. Must Condemn Indonesian Attacks On Papua Protesters

The East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) and West Papua Advocacy Team (WPAT) strongly urge the U.S. government to condemn the unwarranted assault by Indonesian government security forces on peaceful May 1 demonstrations in West Papua. They called for U.S. security assistance to be curtailed... More>>

Syria: 'No Conclusive Findings' On Use Of Chemical Weapons

With its investigation continuing into violations of human rights in Syria, an independent United Nations panel today said it has “no conclusive findings” regarding the use of chemical weapons by any of the parties to the conflict in the country. More>>

ALSO:

Julie Webb-Pullman - Syria: a toast to Israeli State Terrorism
Alastair Reith - Links: World Reacts to Israeli Attack On Syria
United Nations - ‘No conclusive findings’ on Syria chemical weapons
Image Out-Link - Igarit News via ABC News

Save the Children: DR Congo World’s Toughest Place To Be A Mother

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is the toughest place in the world to be a mother – while Finland is the best – according to Save the Children’s State of the World’s Mothers report for 2013. More>>