Dismay at death of two newspaper employees in Gaza Strip clashes

Reporters Without Borders voiced deep concern today about the climate of violence reigning in the Gaza Strip after yesterday's fatal shooting of two employees of a local daily newspaper - one of them, a journalist - in the course of the clashes of the past few days between Hamas and Fatah supporters. “Who is going to take it upon themselves to put an end to the fratricidal fighting in the Gaza Strip?” the press freedom organisation asked. “Gaza was already dangerous for foreign journalists, who are liable to get kidnapped there. Now it is even more dangerous for the Palestinian journalists covering the daily violence. It is clear there are no longer any authorities capable of protecting journalists or carrying out investigations leading to the punishment of those responsible for violence against the press.” Reporters Without Borders added: “We are still without any news of British journalist Alan Johnston, who was taken hostage in Gaza 64 days ago. We hope this new wave of violence does not delay his release even more.” Suleyman Al-Aashi and Mohammed Mattar Abdu of the pro-Hamas daily Filistin were driving to the newspaper yesterday when they came under fire at a roadblock near the Al- Ansar compound, the headquarters of militias affiliated to President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party. Al-Aashi was killed on the spot. Abdu was taken to Shifa hospital where he died of his injuries today. Both were aged 25. The last time a Palestinian journalist was killed in clashes between rival Palestinian groups was on 2 March 2004, when gunmen opened fire on Khalil Al-Zebin, the editor of the pro-Fatah monthly An-Nashra.