Palestinian governing Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) condemned on Tuesday the abduction of a Spanish photographer that works for the Associated Press (AP) near a Gaza hotel by unknown masked militants. In a written statement sent to reporters, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoom urged the kidnappers to free the foreign photographer immediately and without conditions.
Palestinian security sources and eyewitnesses said that unknown masked militants abducted AP photographer Emillio Yomartani near Palestine Hotel on the beachside of Gaza City and fled the scene.
The sources said that the masked militants forced Yomartani to get into their car and ran away from the area.
No one has claimed responsibility and no contacts had been yet conducted with the unknown abductors.
"Actions of abductions are not our culture and are not in our doctrine. The Spanich photographer should be immediately freed,"said Barhoom, adding "Hamas condemns the abduction of guests that carry eminent massages."
Meanwhile, Hamas-led government spokesman Ghazi Hamad also denounced that "this crime is a violation of law and hurts the image of the Palestinian people."
"The government totally rejects such actions that feed chaos and anarchy," he stated.
The abduction of the Spanish photographer was carried out two months after the abduction of two Fox News journalists who were released after a two-week kidnapping in Gaza.
Two weeks ago, an American student was also abducted by unknown militants in the West Bank city of Nablus. The abductors calledfor freeing women and children from Israeli prisons. The student was finally freed.