The Head of the Culture and Information Department at the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Hanan Ashrawi called Monday the international organizations, including the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Federation of Arab Journalists (FAJ) to urgently hold the Israeli authorities accountable for the noticeable escalation against the Palestinian media.

Israel violated the international laws and conventions that grant the freedom of press and media, she noted.

In a press statement issued on Monday, Ashrawi asserted on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day that falls on Tuesday the importance of protecting the Palestinian journalists and media institutions.

She further hailed the efforts exerted by the Palestinian journalists in covering the news accurately with courage and professionalism, urging for backing the media to achieve a democratic modern regime.

Ashrawi underlined that targeting the Palestinian media by Israel via storming the media institutions and closing some of it as well as detaining journalists and opening fire on them is part of an Israeli plan aiming at eliminating Palestine.

Such practices target also intimidating the Palestinian people and create a blackout on the Israeli violations, she reiterated.