Israeli forces raided Al Jazeera’s bureau in Ramallah early Sunday. They delivered a military order to shut down operations for 45 days. Al Jazeera aired live footage showing Israeli troops entering with weapons drawn. The soldiers handed the order to bureau chief Walid al-Omari. Later, the Israeli military confirmed the raid. They sealed the office and confiscated equipment. According to the military, they acted on an intelligence report. They claimed the office was being used “to incite terror” and “support terrorist activities.”
The military defended the closure, saying Al Jazeera’s broadcasts threatened public order and Israeli security. Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi supported the move. He accused the channel of being the “mouthpiece” for Hamas and Hezbollah. Karhi pledged that the government would continue its fight against these “enemy channels.” He cited concerns for Israeli soldiers’ safety.
In response, Al Jazeera condemned the raid, calling it a “criminal act.” The network blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government for jeopardizing its journalists’ safety. They vowed to take legal action. Al Jazeera denied the accusations, calling them “unfounded” and reaffirming their commitment to reporting. Al-Omari said soldiers took the office’s cameras, and he rejected the allegations of “incitement.”
Al Jazeera’s Statement on Instagram
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The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate also condemned the closure. They called it a violation of press freedom. They claimed this was part of Israel’s effort to silence coverage of its military actions in Palestine. Al Jazeera insisted it has no links to militant groups. The network said these accusations are dangerous lies that put journalists at risk.
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This isn’t the first time Al Jazeera has faced restrictions. In May, Israel banned the network from operating in the country. They claimed its broadcasts threatened national security. Israeli forces raided a Jerusalem hotel that housed Al Jazeera’s office. Despite these actions, the network has continued to report from conflict zones. Their coverage includes Israel’s military operations in Gaza and the escalating violence in the West Bank.
Al Jazeera has repeatedly accused Israel of targeting its journalists. They cite the deaths of Samer Abu Daqqa and Hamza Al Dahdooh, both killed in Gaza. Israel denies targeting reporters.
Founded in 1996, Al Jazeera is partially funded by the Qatari government. Qatar uses the network to boost its international influence. Beyond media, Qatar has played a role in ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. They have worked alongside Egypt and the U.S. to mediate talks.
Meanwhile, tensions continue to rise in the West Bank. The Palestinian Authority maintains limited control in the region. However, frequent Israeli military raids, gun battles, and attacks by Jewish settlers have intensified the unrest.
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