Photographer seized in Gaza

Morenatti has been working in Jerusalem since April 2005

24 October 2006

Aljazeera

A photographer for the Associated Press news agency has been kidnapped by unidentified armed men in Gaza, the organisation and witnesses say.


Emilio Morenatti, a Spanish national, was seized early on Tuesday morning from outside the building where he and most foreign AP employees in Gaza live, witnesses said.

Hamdan, Morenatti's driver and translator, told AP that four armed men grabbed his keys and phone and told him to turn away, pressing a gun to his head and threatening to harm him if he moved.

They then grabbed Morenatti and forced him into a car before driving off.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the incident and Palestinian security sources said that they were searching the area.

'Damaging' incident

Ghazi Hamad, spokesman for the Hamas-led Palestinian government, condemned the kidnapping, saying it "damages the reputation of the Palestinian people".

"The government will take all steps to ensure his release," Hamad said.

Meanwhile, Saeb Erekat, allied to President Mahmoud Abbas of the moderate Fatah Party, also condemned Morenatti's kidnapping, saying it "harms Palestinian interests".

"President Abbas is personally following the matter. We have been in touch with the government, the presidential guards and other security branches in order to acquire his immediate release," Erekat said.

Tom Curley, the AP president and chief executive officer in New York, said the company was doing everything to find Morenatti.

"We are in contact with Palestinian officials and leaders to learn more, and to try to obtain his release. Our main concern now, however, is for his safety," Curley said.

Previous kidnaps

The news agency said that Morenatti, 37, and from Jerez in Spain, has been working for the AP in Jerusalem since April 2005.

Previously, Morenatti covered the war in Afghanistan for AP and also worked for EFE, the Spanish news agency.

Earlier this month, unidentified fighters kidnapped a US student volunteer in the West Bank but released him within hours.

Two journalists working for the US Fox News channel were abducted in the Gaza Strip in August.

They were held by Palestinian fighters for two weeks before being freed.

Updates:

Kidnapped Spanish AP photographer freed

AP photographer recounts Gaza kidnapping