Israeli military storms, closes Al Jazeera’s West Bank offices

Sep 23, 2024

Lauren Taylor Anchor

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Jake Maslo (Video Editor)

Israeli troops raided Al Jazeera’s office in Ramallah, West Bank, early Sunday, Sept. 22, marking another severe action against the media network known for its detailed coverage of Israeli military operations. During the operation, more than 20 armed soldiers issued a 45-day closure order and evacuated the staff, seizing crucial broadcasting equipment.

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Al Jazeera broadcast the raid live, showing soldiers ordering staff to exit within minutes and confiscating equipment including the microphone of bureau chief Walid al-Omari.

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Israel accused Al Jazeera of inciting terror and being a conduit for Hamas and Hezbollah propaganda, claims the network denies, condemning the raid as a criminal act against press freedom. Al Jazeera insists such actions will not deter its commitment to reporting on the region’s events.

This closure follows a broader pattern of Israeli actions targeting the press, particularly Al Jazeera, which has consistently reported from the front lines of conflict zones.

The Israeli government had previously shut down Al Jazeera’s East Jerusalem bureau and has extended such measures under a new law allowing them to close foreign media offices deemed a security threat.

The Ramallah office’s doors were reportedly welded shut after the raid, and the military cited a 1945 mandate-era law for the closure, a measure that Al Jazeera can appeal within seven days through the Israeli military court system.

The Committee to Protect Journalists has expressed concern, emphasizing that such actions severely undermine the public’s right to know and the media’s ability to operate freely in conflict zones.

Tags: Al Jazeera, Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamas, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Jerusalem, Journalism, Palestine, West Bank

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

ISRAEL’S MILITARY RAIDED AND ORDERED A 45-DAY CLOSURE OF AL JAZEERA’S OFFICE IN THE WEST BANK SUNDAY, ACCUSING THE NETWORK OF INCITING TERROR AND SUPPORTING TERRORIST ACTIVITIES. This the latest move in THE GOVERNMENT’s CRACKDOWN ON media IN THE REGION.

MORE THAN 20 SOLDIERS RAIDED THE OFFICE IN RAMALLAH, SEIZING EQUIPMENT AND ORDERING STAFF TO LEAVE. AL JAZEERA CONDEMNED THE MOVE AS AN ATTACK ON PRESS FREEDOM AND JOURNALISM.

ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU HAS BEEN AT ODDS WITH AL JAZEERA, ACCUSING THE NETWORK OF BEING A “MOUTHPIECE FOR HAMAS”. BUT AL JAZEERA SAYS IT’S COMMITTED TO BALANCED AND ACCURATE REPORTING.

IN MAY, THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT VOTED TO SHUT DOWN AL JAZEERA’S OPERATIONS WITHIN THE COUNTRY AND RECENTLY REVOKED THE CREDENTIALS OF ITS REPORTERS UNDER A NEW LAW AIMED AT REGULATING FOREIGN NEWS ORGANIZATIONS.

PRESS FREEDOM GROUPS ARE URGING AL JAZEERA AND OTHER NEWS ORGANIZATIONS BE ALLOWED TO REPORT WITHOUT RESTRICTIONS. CURRENTLY, ISRAEL HAS RESTRICTED FOREIGN JOURNALISTS’ ENTRY TO GAZA, ONLY PERMITTING VISITS TO SPECIFIC SITES ON ORGANIZED TRIPS.

IN JULY, ISRAELI FORCES KILLED AL JAZEERA REPORTER IN AN AIRSTRIKE, saying HE WAS A MEMBER OF HAMAS’S MILITARY WING. AL JAZEERA REJECTED THE ALLEGATION AS BASELESS.

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Israeli military storms, closes Al Jazeera’s West Bank offices

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