Gaza journalists protest colleague's arrest by Israel

By Nour Abu Aisha

GAZA CITY, Palestine

Dozens of Palestinian journalists in the Gaza Strip demonstrated on Wednesday to show solidarity with one of their colleagues recently arrested by Israel.

Organized by the Palestinian Media Forum, an NGO, the demonstration was held outside the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)’s office in Gaza City.

Protesters waved banners demanding an end to Israeli violations against Palestinian reporters, including recently-detained journalist Lama Khater.

“After 34 days of interrogation, Khater was recently sent to prison,” forum chairman Khader al-Jamali told demonstrators at Wednesday’s protest.

“Israel continues to commit violations with a view to silencing voices that resist occupation by conveying the truth in words and images,” he said.

According to al-Jamali, these violations include frequent assaults on -- and the incarceration of -- Palestinian journalists, especially near the Gaza-Israel buffer zone.

Late last month, Israel detained Khater after raiding her home in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron (Al-Khalil).

An activist and a mother of five, Khater has written articles for a number of major Palestinian publications.

According to Palestinian figures, more than 6,400 Palestinians are currently being held in detention facilities throughout Israel.