Are we seeing the first steps of an emboldened Hamas, operating out of Gaza, immitating the perceived victory of Hezbollah in the North?
2 Fox News Reporters Kidnapped in Gaza
By DIAA HADID
Associated Press Writer
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) -- Masked Palestinian gunmen ambushed a car carrying a Fox News crew in Gaza City on Monday and kidnapped two journalists, according to witnesses and Fox.
"We can confirm that two of our people were taken against their will in Gaza," Fox News said in a statement.
A Fox employee in Gaza, who declined to give his name because he was not authorized to release information about the incident, said reporter Steve Centanni, a U.S. citizen, and a cameraman from New Zealand were kidnapped.
The men and their bodyguard were parked near the headquarters of the Palestinian security services when two trucks filled with masked gunmen pulled up and boxed them in, the Fox employee said. The gunmen took the two reporters from the sports utility vehicle, which was marked "TV," and drove away, he said.
Major militant groups in Gaza denied any connection to the incident; there was no immediate word of any demands made.
Security officials put police on alert across Gaza and set up roadblocks to find the gunmen and free the reporters, Interior Ministry spokesman Khaled Abu Hilal said. "This is not acceptable at all," he said.
The Committee to Protect Journalists called for the men to be freed.
"We are gravely concerned about our colleagues' safety and call for their immediate and unconditional release," said executive director Joel Simon. "These are well-established journalists who are not participants in the conflict. They should be treated accordingly and freed."
Several foreigners have been kidnapped in Gaza in recent months with their abductors demanding jobs from the Palestinian Authority or the release of people from Palestinian jails. All those kidnapped have been freed within hours without harm.
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.
2 Fox News Reporters Kidnapped in Gaza
By DIAA HADID
Associated Press Writer
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) -- Masked Palestinian gunmen ambushed a car carrying a Fox News crew in Gaza City on Monday and kidnapped two journalists, according to witnesses and Fox.
"We can confirm that two of our people were taken against their will in Gaza," Fox News said in a statement.
A Fox employee in Gaza, who declined to give his name because he was not authorized to release information about the incident, said reporter Steve Centanni, a U.S. citizen, and a cameraman from New Zealand were kidnapped.
The men and their bodyguard were parked near the headquarters of the Palestinian security services when two trucks filled with masked gunmen pulled up and boxed them in, the Fox employee said. The gunmen took the two reporters from the sports utility vehicle, which was marked "TV," and drove away, he said.
Major militant groups in Gaza denied any connection to the incident; there was no immediate word of any demands made.
Security officials put police on alert across Gaza and set up roadblocks to find the gunmen and free the reporters, Interior Ministry spokesman Khaled Abu Hilal said. "This is not acceptable at all," he said.
The Committee to Protect Journalists called for the men to be freed.
"We are gravely concerned about our colleagues' safety and call for their immediate and unconditional release," said executive director Joel Simon. "These are well-established journalists who are not participants in the conflict. They should be treated accordingly and freed."
Several foreigners have been kidnapped in Gaza in recent months with their abductors demanding jobs from the Palestinian Authority or the release of people from Palestinian jails. All those kidnapped have been freed within hours without harm.
© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.