Delegates at the International Federation of Journalists Congress meeting in Athens today welcomed the decision by Israel to release from custody Peter Hounam who broke the story of Israel’s nuclear weapons capacity in an interview with Mordechai Vanunu 20 years ago. “His detention under rules which prohibit journalists from speaking to Mordechai Vanunu was unacceptable,” said Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary. The IFJ had earlier said that the detention of Hounam, a close associate of Vanunu, was evidence of “continuing hostility” within the Israeli security and political establishment against journalists trying to report on the Vanunu story. Read more about Federation of Journalists urges Israel to respect rights of journalists 

Reporters Without Borders protested at the arrest from his hotel room of British journalist Peter Hounam of the Sunday Times, who in 1986, wrote an article on Israeli nuclear secrets, based on revelations by atomic technician Mordechai Vanunu. RSF demanded an explanation from the Israeli authorities for this surprising arrest, complaining of official silence on the reasons for it and on where the journalist was being held. “We are perturbed by this arrest which seems to have a direct link with Peter Hounam’s work on Mordechai Vanunu. The Israeli authorities seem prepared to go to any lengths to stifle news on the nuclear issue in Israel. This arrest and the blackout that followed it are serious violations of press freedom. We await your explanations,” it said. Read more about Vanunu journalist, Peter Hounam arrested 

Israeli helicopters launched a missile at the office of al-Resala weekly, located on the first floor of a building in Gaza City. The missile hit the office and destroyed it completely. Two Palestinian civilians living in the area were injured. No casualties were reported among al-Resala’s staff. The magazine is a licensed magazine published by the Palestinian Salvation Party since 1997. On May 2, Israeli helicopters launched missiles at the Aqsa Broadcasting station. The office was located on the upper floor of a building in the center of Gaza City. The offices were severely damaged, but no casualties were reported. Read more about Israeli helicopters attack office of Palestinian magazine 

RSF has called on Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz to hold an “impartial, swift and rigorous” investigation into the shooting of Agence France-Presse (AFP) photographer Mahmoud Hams in the Gaza Strip on 5 May 2004. Hams, aged 25, was shot in the left thigh while taking photographs of young Palestinians throwing stones at soldiers during an Israeli army incursion into the central Gaza city of Deir Al-Balah. He was also injured by shrapnel in his right thigh and is being treated at Deir Al-Balah hospital. Late on 5 May, doctors said his condition was stable. Eyewitnesses said that there had been no exchange of fire in the sector when Hams was injured. Read more about AFP photographer shot and wounded in Deir Al-Balah 

On the eve of World Press Freedom Day, Israeli helicopters launched three missiles at the office of the local al-Aqsa broadcasting station, located on the top floor of an appartment building in Gaza City. Two of the missiles directly hit the station, a third missile destroyed a part of the roof of the building. A number of Palestinian civilians were reported to be suffering from shock, but no other injuries were reported. Since September 2000, Israeli forces have killed 8 journalists. Read more about Israeli helicopters fire missiles at Palestinian radio station