Hamas shuts down Gaza media office

GAZA, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Hamas security forces in Gaza shut down the headquarters of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate without any explanation, a Palestinian journalist said.

Tahseen al-Astal, a member of the press union's general secretariat told Ma'an news agency that forces raided the offices Tuesday and shut them down without explanation. Astal said the security forces informed the journalists that they were acting on a decision made by the local Ministry of Interior in Gaza.

The syndicate's offices in Ramallah condemned the move and issued a statement saying, "this crime comes as the syndicate organized workshops to unite journalists."

"Hamas leaders and security forces carry full responsibility for the lives of journalists in Gaza," the statement said, adding that the syndicate demanded Hamas reverse the decision and issue an apology to the union leadership, the news agency said.

The agency said the syndicate is the largest Palestinian press organization, and a delegate to the International Federation of Journalists has been accused in recent months of taking a pro-Fatah stance.

Hamas rival Fatah is in power on the West Bank.