Hamas closes 2 Arab media bureaus in Gaza over unflattering coverage, criticism

Hamas rulers in this Palestinian territory have shuttered two Arab media bureaus over their coverage of Gaza's Islamist leaders.

Hamas Attorney General Ismail Jaber told The Associated Press Thursday that he closed the Gaza Strip bureaus of satellite channel Al Arabiya and West Bank-based outlet Maan because they "spread fabricated rumors" that "harm the Palestinian national interest and resistance movements."

A Maan correspondent said Hamas was upset about its reports that Hamas militants were contributing to chaos in the Sinai Peninsula following the ouster of Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to speak publically about the matter.

Al Arabiya had no comment.

The media crackdown comes as Egypt's new government has imposed the toughest border restrictions on Gaza in years.