Security Chaos and Proliferation of Weapons

Misuse of Weapons by Armed Groups or Security Personnel

Field Update

08 March 2009

PCHR Condemns Attack on al-Jazeera Office in Gaza city

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) condemns an attack at the office of the al-

Jazeera Satellite Channel in Gaza city, which is part of the state of security chaos and proliferation of weapons plaguing the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT).

According to investigations conducted by PCHR, at approximately 21:00 on Saturday, 07 March, Wissam Hammad, a news producer at al-Jazeera in Gaza city, received a phone call from an unidentified person, who informed him that an explosive device had been planted near the door of the office and was going to be detonated.

When he received the phone call, Wissam Hammad was in the al-Jazeera office, which is located on the eleventh floor of the al-Jalaa’ Building in the center of Gaza City. Staff members immediately began to evacuate the premises, and whilst doing so they found an explosive device at the office door. A piece of paper found near the device stated the following: “To those with unfair media consciences, if you think of a solution it will be well-known. Leave immediately.”

The statement was signed by persons identifying themselves as “Ghosts of Sameeh al-Madhoun.” Wa’el al-Dahdouh, an al-Jazeera correspondent in Gaza, told PCHR that the police were immediately informed, and deactivated the bomb.

PCHR strongly condemns this attack and calls upon all concerned authorities to search for and bring the perpetrators to justice according to the rule of law.