RAMALLAH, July 30, 2017 (WAFA) - PLO Executive Committee Member Hanan Ashrawi Sunday denounced in the strongest terms the Israeli army’s raid of PalMedia headquarters in Ramallah and the destruction and confiscation of property.

She said in a statement that these actions are in direct contravention of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that calls for the protection of the fundamental right of freedom of expression and the right to hold opinions without interference.  

Ashrawi said, “Israel is engaging in an ongoing policy that deliberately targets media institutions and journalists in Palestine who courageously work to represent the Palestinian human narrative and report on Israel‘s military occupation and its persistent policies of apartheid and ethnic cleansing.”

She said such Israeli policies of violence and repression and the recent attacks against Palestinian members of the press in and around Occupied East Jerusalem are a blatant attempt to break the steadfastness of the Palestinian people.

Ashrawi called on the international community to take immediate action to curb Israel‘s ongoing breach of international law and conventions and to support Palestinians’ nonviolent and diplomatic efforts to seek justice and protection for the Palestinian people in all international legal venues.

M.H