Special to WorldTribune.com

GAZA CITY — Hamas has launched a crackdown on the foreign Arab news agencies in the Gaza Strip.

The Hamas regime has closed two bureaus of foreign Arab media in the Gaza Strip.

Officials identified them as the Saudi-owned Al Arabiya and the European Union-funded Maan news agency.

“The attorney general received complaints, including from the Information Ministry of Information, that Al Arabiya and Maan reported false news, fabrications and lies,” Hamas government spokesman Ihab Ghassan said.

In a statement on July 25, Hamas said Al Arabiya and Maan had accused the Islamist regime of harboring leaders of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood. Both outlets have been quoting Egyptian security sources as saying that Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian militias were operating in the turbulent Sinai Peninsula.

Officials said the offices of Al Arabiya and Maan would be shut down
temporarily. They said a third outlet, called Lens, was closed after it was
accused of working with the Israeli media.

Hamas has conducted periodic crackdowns on local and foreign media.
Several Western media outlets maintain Palestinian stringers in the Gaza
Strip.

  Al Arabiya, Hamas shuts down Arab media for reporting ‘false news’ on Hamas role in Sinai, Ihab Ghassan, Maan