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Manbar al-Hurriyya (Freedom Tribune) radio station. Published by Maan News
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BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Palestinian security forces reportedly detained the director of a Hebron-based Palestinian radio station on Sunday, days after Israeli forces raided its offices and ordered it to be shut down for the next six months.

Last Thursday, Israeli soldiers stormed al-Hurriya Media Company -- which runs the Manbar al-Hurriya radio station and al-Nawras TV -- and destroyed, damaged, and confiscated various equipment, head of the radio station Ayman Qawasmeh told Ma'an at the time.

An Israeli army spokesperson had said that the raid was part of the Israeli army’s “ongoing efforts against incitement” in the occupied West Bank. She added that the station “regularly broadcasts inciting contents,” and has “encouraged acts of terror.”

Three days later, Palestinian media sites reported that Palestinian security forces arrested Qawasmeh.

Al-Quds News reported the arrest came after Qawasmeh called on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah to resign in the wake of the radio station's closure.

Following the Israeli raid, Qawasmeh told Ma'an: “We were not surprised at the occupation’s barbaric policy and they will not be able to silence the voice of al-Hurriya.” He added that it was not the first time the radio station, which employs 56 people, had been shuttered by Israeli forces over claims of alleged incitement to violence.