British officials met on Monday with Paul Martin, a detained journalist in Gaza Strip. The man was arrested on Sunday by Hamas security forces. Martin is a documentary filmmaker who was detained for fifteen days. He is suspected of "violating Palestinian law."
The Guardian newspaper reported on Monday that Martin was detained at a courthouse on Sunday. The Briton had been due to testify on behalf of a defendant accused of collaborating with Israel. A statement by the Hamas interior ministry said Martin was ordered held for two weeks for "violating Palestinian law and security in the Gaza Strip." "A representative from the British consulate entered (Gaza Strip) yesterday and has met with the British journalist," it said, adding that Martin had chosen a local lawyer.
According to AFP, another Hamas official said the Briton was detained attending a court session in support of a Palestinian friend accused of "collaborating with Israel." The defendant "testified against the British journalist and indicated that he had broken the law and security of Gaza," the statement said.
