Meanwhile in Gaza, a British journalist was released on Thursday after nearly four weeks in jail under the Hamas government. Hamas has accused the journalist, Paul Martin, of being a spy for Israel and says he will be permanently barred from the Occupied Territories. Upon his release, Martin said he was targeted for being a journalist.

Paul Martin: “My release today is a great victory for freedom of the media, freedom of the press, to be able to follow difficult stories in war zones, in zones of conflict, in difficult places, to be able to do so without fear of arrest, detention or intimidation. I have gone through a lot in the last few days and weeks, but I think if my release today is worth anything, it is worth showing the world that journalists must do their stories irrespective of the risks involved, if they wish to maintain freedom of the media.”