GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The Palestinian Ministry of Information in the Gaza Strip blocked Feb. 18 the launch of Taif TV, which would serve as a platform dedicated to women’s affairs in Gaza. While the media office of the ministry said in a Feb. 18 statement on its official website that the channel had not obtained the necessary licenses, the channel's director, Mona Okal, told the BBC that the crisis was “fabricated” and “aimed at entangling the channel in a political impasse.”
The ministry’s media office continued in its statement that Taif TV was repeatedly contacted to submit the necessary documents and settle the legal status of the channel, and had been notified that a radio station has the same name.
In its statement, the ministry stressed its respect for freedom of opinion and expression, and said, “We regret the TV channel’s failure to comply with the legal principles currently in force.”
The Taif TV administration said in a statement Feb. 18 on its official Facebook page, “We regret the allegations made by the media office of the Ministry of Information in Gaza and confirm that our legal status is sound and does not contradict the provisions of the publications law. We have even obtained the necessary license from the Ministry of Interior in Gaza to hold the inauguration ceremony.”
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