Gag order imposed on information about Fuqaha’s assassination probes

The Palestinian government in Gaza yesterday issued a gag order on information about the investigation into the assassination of Hamas member Mazen Fuqaha, who was assassinated on Friday in Gaza, a statement said.

“The Public Prosecutor imposed a gag order on details and information about the investigation into the assassination, including reporting unknown sources and Israeli mass media or posting on social media,” the statement said.

Mazen Fuqahaa, a leader of Hamas, assassinated by Israel in the Gaza Strip on March 24, 2016

According to the Public Prosecutor’s statement, “anyone violating this order is subject to legal questioning and punishment.”

On Friday evening, unknown armed people gunned Fuqaha down at the door of a residential building in the west of the Gaza City at the centre of the Gaza Strip.

Hamas and its military wing believe Israel is behind his murder. Hamas top leader Khalid Meshaal said yesterday:

Israel changed the rules of the game by assassinating Fuqaha.

“Fuqaha’s assassination brought Israel and Hamas to an open war,” he added. “Hamas accepted this challenge, which was started by Israel.”

In the wake of the assassination, the government in Gaza sealed off all terminals of the coastal enclave in an effort to pursue the assailants. The government eased the closure yesterday morning.

Fuqaha was one of the Palestinian prisoners freed by the Gilad Shalit swap reached between Hamas and Israel in 2011.