"Israel" maintains pressure on media

‘Israel' bullies correspondents who cover its crimes against the Palestinians in Gaza as its war on the coastal strip enters the 12th day.

'Israeli' forces arrested a correspondent of the Arabic-language Al-Alam News Network, Khezir Shahin, reporting from the occupied Palestinian territory and took him into custody for questioning on Monday.

'Israeli' authorities claim that Shahin violated censorship rules when he reported the launch of the ‘Israeli' ground attacks on the Gaza Strip, which had been banned by the ‘Israeli' military.

'Israel's' military censor has broad powers to shut down media outlets or imprison journalists to prevent the release of information deemed as security threats.

"Shahin was arrested by the Zionist regime (‘Israel') to prevent broadcasting news about its brutal crimes and to convey a warning message to reporters of other media who are telling the facts and realities of the Zionists against the oppressed people in Gaza," Al-‘Alam Head Ahmad Sadat told IRNA on Tuesday.

He said that the hearing, held on Tuesday, decided to extend the reporter's detention for another six days for further interrogation and added, "Three competent lawyers have been invited to investigate Shahin's case. They are now collecting information necessary to defend him," he said.

According to Tel Aviv, however, the war on Gaza is aimed at ending the rocket attacks against ‘Israeli' settlers, toppling Hamas and preventing the resistance group from rearming.

Hamas, on the other hand, demands a cessation of ‘Israeli' attacks and the opening of the Gaza border.

The 12th day of the assault brings the number of Palestinian casualties to over 660 with nearly 3,000 wounded.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has described the attacks as "totally unacceptable."

"After earlier strikes, the ‘Israeli' government was warned that its operations were endangering UN compounds," he said in a statement. "I am deeply dismayed that despite these repeated efforts, today's tragedies have ensued."

In his Tuesday remarks, Al-Alam's Sadat said, "based on ‘Israeli' law, if proved guilty, Shahin will face 15-20 years imprisonment."

The head of ‘Israel's' Government Press Office, Daniel Seaman, said, "Shahin was not an accredited journalist. He is not only being questioned about a simple censorship violation, but whether or not he's doing it for other purposes."