The Palestinian Authority has blocked at least 11 websites critical of President Mahmoud Abbas or affiliated with Gaza-based rival Hamas over the past few days, Palestinian media groups said on Friday.
The public prosecutor, Ahmad Barak, ordered internet providers in the West Bank to block several websites linked to the Islamist Hamas movement or operated by supporters of Mohammad Dahlan, a former strongman in Abbas’ Fatah party.
The move was strongly criticised by the Palestinian Centre for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) and 7amleh, the Arab Centre for Social Media Advancement.
Expressing its concern, Ramallah-based MADA said the decision “constitutes a serious violation of freedom of the press and expression.
7amleh, which monitors digital violations in the occupied Palestinian Territories, said the move was “in complete contradiction with international conventions and treaties.”
Hasan Asfour, who runs Amad, one of the pro-Dahlan blocked websites, told MADA that he was surprised to find his website blocked on Monday.
He said that he was not warned beforehand.
Operators of Hamas-affiliated website Shihab said that they were blocked on Thursday without prior notice.
All the blocked websites operate from outside the Palestinian Territories.
The move came days after other Arab countries in the region, including Egypt, blocked several websites critical of the Palestinian authority’s policies. (dpa/NAN)
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