Recently, on live television, heavily armed Israeli soldiers raided Al Jazeera’s bureau in Ramallah, occupied West Bank, and handed the bureau head a notice to shut it down.
Who closed the bureau?
Despite being in a Palestinian-controlled area, the Israeli military authority ordered the closure of the bureau.
Why did Israel raid the bureau?
Israel accused Al Jazeera of incitement and supporting “terrorism”, part of a long history of targeting the media outlet for reporting on Palestinian territories.
Are the Al Jazeera team OK?
Thankfully, no injuries were reported, but the team was forced to leave the office and stand outside amid the raid.
When can the bureau reopen?
The closure order is for 45 days, with a possibility of automatic renewal, similar to a previous closure of Al Jazeera’s bureau in Israel.
What’s the difference between a civilian order and a military one?
While there may not be a practical difference, the closure in Ramallah raises questions as it comes from an authority with no jurisdiction over the area.
What can the bureau do about this?
Bureau head was informed that any appeals would have to go through the military command, a process that involves opaque systems and secret evidence.
What’s the situation now?
The bureau remains sealed off, inaccessible to the team.