112 In the Gaza Strip, numerous journalists and media representatives were assaulted by the Security Service elements of the Ministry of the Interior while covering certain events. One example is Ahmad Mousa Ibrahim Abu Fayyad, a Palestinian journalist and correspondent for Al‐Jazeera Net. He was beaten and insulted by members of the police during his reporting for the ceremony organized by Toyour al‐Janeh Band on 04/08/2010 in the sports city playground in Qizan al‐Najjar in Khan Younis. He was beaten and insulted and his camera was confiscated. Although he introduced himself and the nature of his journalist work, this did not excuse him. According to his complaint submitted to ICHR, “his photographs were displayed for the second time on them. Someone hit me with his left hand on my shoulder and on my neck. He hit me about five strokes and then another police came and hit me with sticks on my back in front of my children who started to shout. One of them confiscated the camera.” Later, the incident was investigated by the police and the camera was returned to the journalist.126 3‐ Continued Ban on Printing and Distribution of Daily and Weekly Newspapers The Publication and Printing Law Number (9) of 1995 regulates the legal framework for the work of newspapers in Palestine. The Law also specifies the means for obtaining licenses and the competent parties in this regard. The Law stipulates the procedures which need to be followed when a violation of its provisions is committed, and identifies the means for initiating a case of public right in crimes related to periodic and non‐periodic publications. Article 42 (1) of the Law stipulates: “The competent court of law takes up all actions committed in violation of the provisions of the law. The Public Prosecutor shall investigate these violations according to the powers and procedures stipulated by the effective penal laws.” It is clear from this article that the Executive Authority has restricted powers and is not authorized to close or ban the printing or distribution of any periodic or non‐periodic publication in Palestine except through a judicial order. The security agencies in the West Bank have prohibited the printing and distribution of some newspapers, particularly "al‐Risala", "Falastine" and "Minbar el‐Islah" since the beginning of the internal conflict in the middle of 2007. It is worth mentioning that neither did the Government under Salam Fayyad issue a decision on the ban or prohibition of licensing, or withdrawal of the 126 According to a complaint received by ICHR in this regard.