Pressure Groups and Censorship

Palestinian Journalist Shot Dead

By Correspondents in Nablus, West Bank
The Australian
March 23, 2004

A Palestinian journalist was shot dead by Israeli troops in a refugee camp on the outskirts of the West Bank town of Nablus today while covering protests against the killing of Hamas spiritual leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, medical sources said.

Mohammed Abu Halima, 22, was hit in the stomach after troops opened fire in the Balata refugee camp. He was taken to hospital in Nablus where he died of his injuries.

He had been working for al-Najah radio station, based in the northern West Bank city’s university.

Israeli military said soldiers returned fire after shots were fired at them during the protest and stressed the victim was also a member of the Palestinian radical Islamic movement Hamas.

His death brought the toll since the start of the Palestinian uprising in September 2000 to 3874 people, including 2909 Palestinians and 896 Israelis.