Ramallah: Israeli forces raided Al Jazeera’s office in Ramallah, West Bank, on Sunday, ordering the Qatari broadcaster to close its bureau for 45 days.
“There is a court ruling for closing down Al Jazeera for 45 days,” an Israeli soldier told Al Jazeera’s West Bank bureau chief, Walid al-Omari, during a live broadcast. “I ask you to take all the cameras and leave the office at this moment,” the soldier added, according to AFP. Al Jazeera stated that the forces did not provide a reason for the closure order.
The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate condemned the Israeli action, labeling it an “arbitrary military decision” and a new violation of journalistic rights. The syndicate emphasized that such actions undermine the media’s role in exposing the occupation’s crimes against the Palestinian people.
This latest raid follows the Israeli government’s recent announcement that it was revoking the press credentials of Al Jazeera journalists. This move came four months after the government banned the channel from operating inside Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration has had a long-standing conflict with Al Jazeera, which has escalated since the outbreak of the Gaza war in October. On May 5, the government approved a decision to ban Al Jazeera from broadcasting in Israel and to close its offices for 45 days. However, on June 9, Israel’s supreme court, responding to a petition from the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, referred the case to the Tel Aviv district court.
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The government subsequently sought the court’s confirmation of the 45-day ban. The judge authorized a 35-day ban, citing legal flaws, but the ban has continued to be extended since then.
Established in 1996, Al Jazeera is regarded by Qatar as a key platform to elevate its global presence and influence. The name “Al Jazeera” translates from Arabic to “the island” or “the peninsula,” reflecting the network’s roots and connection to the region.
