IFJ calls on Israeli authorities to allow PJS senior official travel out of Gaza

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today calls on Israeli authorities to allow a senior official of its affiliate the Palestinian Journalist Syndicate (PJS) to travel out of the Gaza strip to Ramallah. Tahseen al Astal, vice-president of PJS was part of a delegation travelling from the Gaza strip to Ramallah, West bank to participate in a PJS executive board meeting. Although Tahseen al Astal was initially granted permission to travel he was denied entry to the West Bank on 21 June. It is the second time in 2 months that the journalist is denied entry to the West Bank. “ We are seriously concerned about what appears to be a continuous campaign of intimidation against journalists’ union leaders in Gaza to undermine their work as unionists,” said IFJ president Jim Boumelha. “We call on Israeli authorities to let Tahseen al Astal enter gaza strip without condition”. In a letter addressed to the Israeli government press office on 27 April 2015, the IFJ already asked the Israeli authorities to let PJS vice president and one of his colleague to travel out of Gaza.

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