Israeli forces raided Al Jazeera’s office in Ramallah, issuing a 45-day closure order amidst a long-standing feud worsened by the conflict in Gaza. Accusations of links to Hamas have plagued the news channel, with four journalists killed and their Gaza office bombed.
Israeli soldiers did not provide a reason for the closure order, accusing Al Jazeera of incitement to terrorism. This move was condemned by the Palestinian foreign ministry as a violation of press freedom.
The Foreign Press Association criticized the escalation, calling on Israel to reconsider its actions. A recent law allows the banning of foreign media broadcasts deemed harmful to state security, leading to the ban of Al Jazeera in Israel.
The network decried the decision as criminal and a violation of the right to information. Despite the closure, broadcasts from the West Bank and Gaza Strip are unaffected.
The Hamas-run government in Gaza condemned the raid, calling it a violation of press freedom. With tensions high, the conflict in Gaza has taken a deadly toll on civilians, drawing condemnation from the United Nations.