Israel
Journalists aboard Gaza aid ship attackedPosted Feb 15 2009
Passengers and journalists aboard a Gaza aid ship were assaulted Feb. 6, reported both the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Al-Jazeera English.
The ship was carrying 60 tons of aid to the Gaza Strip, according to Al-Jazeera. An Al-Jazeera correspondent aboard the ship said that the Israeli navy opened fire and soldiers boarded the ship, diverting it to the Israeli port city of Ashdod to question the passengers.
Journalists aboard the cargo vessel included Al-Jazeera correspondent Salam Khodr and cameraman Muhammad Aliq and Lebanese New TV reporter Ogarit Dandash.
The journalists said they filmed the incident, capturing assaults on the passengers by the Israeli soldiers, according to CPJ. The journalists reported being beaten and having equipment confiscated, including tapes of the incident.
According to the owner of the vessel, the Israelis destroyed its communication equipment and confiscated the phones of those on board. Khodr told CPJ that the crew had filmed Israeli soldiers firing at the boat. Israel denies the claim.
All passengers, including the journalists, were released after being held in Ashdod for interrogation by immigration police, according to CPJ.
More information
- Committee to Protect Journalists
- Al-Jazeera English