Israel’s military raided Al Jazeera’s office in Ramallah, located in the West Bank, and ordered its closure for 45 days, marking an escalation in Israel’s campaign against the Qatar-funded broadcaster as it continues to cover the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The raid took place early on Sunday, with Israeli soldiers entering the premises, confiscating equipment, and ordering Al Jazeera staff to vacate the office.
The raid was broadcast live on Al Jazeera’s Arabic-language channel, capturing the moment armed Israeli troops entered the building and confronted the network’s West Bank bureau chief, Walid al-Omari. Soldiers informed him of the 45-day closure order and gave staff just ten minutes to collect their belongings before vacating the office. Al Jazeera staff were seen leaving the building, and shortly after, the live video feed was cut off as soldiers confiscated the cameras and broadcast equipment.
Eyewitnesses reported that Israeli soldiers used explosives to breach the building’s entrance, causing damage to both the interior and exterior of the office. The raid represents the first time Israel has shut down a foreign news outlet operating in the region.
The Israeli military justified the raid, stating that a legal opinion and intelligence assessment determined that Al Jazeera’s office was being used to “incite terror” and “support terrorist activities,” and that its broadcasts posed a threat to Israel’s security. However, the military did not provide further details on these allegations.
Al Jazeera has strongly condemned the closure, labeling the allegations “unfounded” and describing the raid as an attack on press freedom. The Foreign Press Association echoed this sentiment, expressing concern that restricting foreign reporters and closing news channels could indicate a departure from democratic values.
The raid has sparked international criticism, with Al Jazeera vowing to continue covering the conflict from its other bureaus and promising to pursue legal avenues to challenge the closure. This development is the latest in a series of actions by Israeli authorities against Al Jazeera, following earlier raids on its offices in Nazareth and occupied East Jerusalem. The closure order is part of a law passed by the Israeli parliament in April that allows the government to shut down foreign broadcasters considered a threat to national security for up to 45 days, a ban that can be renewed.
Tensions between Al Jazeera and the Israeli government have been ongoing for years, but the situation has intensified following the outbreak of war in Gaza on October 7. The Israeli government has accused Al Jazeera of inciting violence through its coverage, a claim the network denies. Al Jazeera has also faced challenges in Israel since its reporter, Shireen Abu Akleh, was killed while covering a raid in the West Bank in 2022, an incident that prompted widespread condemnation.
Israeli forces raided Al Jazeera’s office in Ramallah while bureau chief Walid al-Omari was live on air.
They shut down the channel’s operations there for at least 45 days. pic.twitter.com/sIR9A1SytS
— AJ+ (@ajplus) September 22, 2024
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