Hamas Extends Detention of British Journalist

[oberliner]

GAZA — A Hamas military court in Gaza decided Monday to extend the detention of a British journalist for another 15 days of interrogation on suspicion of unspecified security offenses.

The journalist, Paul Martin, a freelance film-maker, was arrested on Feb. 14 at the trial of a Palestinian militant accused of collaborating with Israel. Mr. Martin intended to testify on the man’s behalf.

He is the first foreigner to have been arrested by Hamas since it took over Gaza from its rival Fatah in 2007 in a brief civil war.

Mr. Martin was taken to court on Monday in a military minibus. Armed police officers prevented reporters from talking to him or entering the courthouse.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/02/world/middleeast/02mideast.html

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[oberliner]

2. I thought everyone here was anti-Hamas

People who feel an affinity towards Hamas are likely to be banned, according to the guidelines.

In any case, if you don't care about Hamas detaining a journalist from the UK then there is no need for you to click on the story.

Your information with respect to Israel, the PLO, and Hamas is some of the strangest I've ever seen. Israel funded Hamas after the First Intifada because the PLO was threatening to make peace? Hamas is a red herring? Exist solely (through Israel's funding) as a means of "distracting criticism"? This is bizarro-world material.

I would be curious to know the source(s) for your aforementioned claims.

[proteus_lives]

3. So you're pro-Hamas?

Not surprising.

[aranthus]

4. Nothing would move you from your "It's all Israel's fault mantra."

Not logic, not facts, not reality, not the truth. Pathetic.

[LeftishBrit]

5. I would assume that everyone here is anti-Republican, anti-Likud and anti-Hamas!

Not to mention anti-detention of foreign journalists - anywhere!

[Donald Ian Rankin]

7. I think you'd be wrong about the anti-Likud bit. N.T.

[oberliner]

8. Based on what evidence?

People have spoken out in favor of certain components of Hamas and defending some of the points of view much moreso than Likud.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

9. The number of posts I've seen defending the actions of the current Israeli government. N.T.

[oberliner]

6. British journalist released by Gaza gov't

Gaza – Ma'an – British journalist Paul Martin, detained and charged with threatening state security in the Gaza Strip, was released on Thursday, Palestinian security sources said.

The documentary filmmaker was detained on 14 February and interrogated for 15 days by de facto government intelligence officers over interviews he was conducting with Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel.

Locals tipped off police as to the nature of Martin's work, and he was immediately detained, although no charges were ever announced. A military court extended his detention by 15 days on 1 March, at which time the de facto Ministry of Interior insisted the journalist was being treated in accordance with international law.

"The government responded to international appeals by media figures, politicians and foreigners for the release of the journalist," said Ahmad Yousef, undersecretary of the de facto Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Martin was released and deported without charge, Yousef added.

http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=267879