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Human Rights Group Slams Palestinian Authority and Hamas Over Free Speech

Human Rights Watch says that both the Islamist Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip and the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, are silencing dissent by cracking down on free speech and abusing local journalists and activists who are critical of their policies. The rival Palestinian groups have been split since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007. Since then, they have periodically cracked down on rivals to consolidate power. Jamal Dajani, a spokesman for the West Bank government, says any cases of abuse were isolated and not government policy. Hamas officials declined comment.