Molotov cocktail attack on news agency’s Gaza City bureau

Reporters Without Borders condemns yesterday’s attack on the Gaza City bureau of the independent Palestinian news agency Ma’an. Eye-witnesses said unidentified assailants threw three Molotov cocktails at its offices, starting a fire that caused little damage and no injuries. Police and security agents rushed quickly to the scene and began an investigation. But sources told Reporters Without Borders that nothing conclusive had been established. A Ma’an representative told the press freedom organization: “We have received phone calls threatening us or criticizing our work but this is the first time our bureau has been the target of something as serious as this. I don’t think there was a particular reason. We have always covered sensitive stories and our method of working has not changed. I suspect that a small armed group was responsible but we will see the results of the investigation.” Reporters Without Borders urges the Gaza authorities to establish the motive for attack, identify those responsible and bring them to justice. The Hamas government has a duty to ensure that journalists are safe and able to work in the Gaza Strip. Created in 2005 and headquartered in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, Ma'an puts out news reports in Arabic, Hebrew and English. Its website is a good source of information for Palestinians and journalists following events in the Palestinian Territories.