Hamas praises press freedoms - as long as the media do Hamas' bidding

Hamas held a ceremony to celebrate journalists in Gaza yesterday, especially those who received international awards this year.

Hamas' prime minister Ismail Haniyeh accused the Israeli media of engaging in psychological warfare against Gazans, presumably for doing some actual reporting.

He said that Hamas does not suppress media freedoms in Gaza, and then he described exactly what their role is by praising the "role of media in the Palestinian liberation struggle against the occupation."

Haniyeh also complimented the Palestinian Arab media on not doing the "occupation's" bidding.

Meanwhile, PCHR noted that Hamas confiscated the camera and mobile phone of a correspondent for the Chinese News Agency just last week.