Another protest, another beat-down by Hamas, and more reporters wounded and forbidden to report. Just another normal day in Hamastan.
A protest by Fatah supporters against Hamas rule turned violent Friday when Hamas men began forcefully dispersing the crowd, firing in the air and beating demonstrators and reporters.
Some 20 people were wounded in the clashes, including two French journalists and two children, according to doctors and witnesses.
AP staff covering the protest witnessed the beating of one journalist by Hamas supporters. He was not seriously hurt.
Yeah, there’s a picture at the link of some poor schlub that doesn’t look so fortunate, though.
Say. Think we’re going to hear from Reporters Without Borders over this? Think the British journalists’ union that advocated boycotting Israel might be thinking of boycotting Gaza?
Nah, me neither.
After the Fatah supporters finished prayers, Hamas men began firing into the air to disperse the crowd. The Hamas security forces then began arresting protesters and taking them away in jeeps, and also beat several demonstrators. AP Television News footage showed several uniformed Hamas men beating an unarmed protester with long sticks.
Hamas men in civilian clothes also joined the uniformed forces in dispersing the protest.
A small explosion from an unknown source injured two French journalists, one in his leg and the other on her hand. Neither injury was considered serious.
At one point, a Hamas security building was pelted with small explosive devices, according to an AP photographer on the scene. Hamas security agents responded by firing in the air.
After the clashes, heavily armed Hamas security agents entered AP’s offices in Gaza City and instructed staff not to film or photograph a nearby security building from the balcony without prior permission.
This story, of course, demands one more look at that glorious Hamas op-ed that promised puppies and kittens for all good Gaza citizens:
Our stated aim when we won the election was to effect reform, end corruption and bring economic prosperity to our people. Our sole focus is Palestinian rights and good governance. We now hope to create a climate of peace and tranquillity within our community that will pave the way for an end to internal strife….
Yep. Good governance. Not the kind of governance that closes down medical clinics, refuses to allow Israeli trucks bearing food and needed supplies into Gaza, and extorting money from citizens. No. That would be bad governance.
That would be Hamas.
I am waiting for my local rag the Minnepolis Star and Tribune to cover this event-when Hell freezes over!
The media believes they can rule a perfect, pacifist world once they trick everyone into never again using violence to get what they want. The problem is, there will always be those who will use violence, and their power grows as everyone else drinks the media’s Kool-Aid. Until the media realizes that not only do people have the right to defend themselves with violence, but a responsibility to do so when violence is used against them, they will never have any choice but to enslave themselves to anyone who threatens them with any potentially deadly force, even to any random gang of rock-throwing children.