RAMALLAH, May 29, 2014 (WAFA) – Ministry of Information considered, in a statement Thursday, the Israeli assault on Al-Ayyam newspaper offices in Ramallah and confiscation of Gaza-issued newspapers a continuation of Israel’s “bullying” against Palestinian media.

Following is the full statement by the Ministry of Information:

The Ministry of Information considers the Israeli crime of storming Al-Ayyam newspaper offices in Ramallah and confiscating the “Palestine”,” Al-Risalah” and “Al-Istiqlal” a continuation of the ongoing Israeli bullying against Palestinian media and a desperate attempt to muffle the free media by means of terror.

The Ministry considers storming Al-Ayyam press and the confiscation of three newspapers’ copies printed at Al-Ayyam and threatening them with additional terror to prevent printing them – under the pretext of incitement against Israel – is a hostile and criminal act added to the dark history of the Israeli occupation in targeting and killing journalists, destroying and vandalizing media outlets, threatening them and looting their equipment.

The Ministry is very proud of the Palestinian journalists, who continue carrying out their professional and human duty undeterred by the Israeli occupation practices and intimidation. The Ministry further reaffirms support for Al-Ayyam newspaper and highly appreciates its national and professional role it plays since the establishment of the Palestinian National Authority.

The Ministry of Information calls upon the International Federation of Journalists to take action pressuring the Israeli occupation into desisting from terrorizing our media and to hold the criminals accountable for their crimes, including the crimes of terror, detention and targeting Palestinian journalists and media outlets, the statement concluded.

M.N./T.R.