Press freedom groups and rights activists have condemned the Israeli military for forcefully closing Al Jazeera’s office in Ramallah, calling it an attack on journalism. The bureau was raided by heavily armed Israeli soldiers early on Sunday morning, who handed a closure order to Al Jazeera’s bureau chief, accusing the network of supporting terrorism. The soldiers also confiscated cameras and tore down posters of a slain journalist.
The Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders expressed deep concern over the raid, stating that it undermines the public’s right to information. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate also denounced the military decision as an aggression against journalistic work.
Al Jazeera has been providing extensive coverage of Israeli military offensives in Gaza and violence against Palestinians, resulting in the death of four of its journalists. Despite accusations from Israel, Al Jazeera denies harming national security.
The Al Jazeera Media Network strongly condemned the closure, labeling it a criminal act that hampers press freedom. Experts believe this move signifies a broader Israeli crackdown on information coming out of the West Bank.