Press freedom teams and rights activists have condemned the Israeli army forcibly shutting down Al Jazeera’s office in Ramallah, within the occupied West Financial institution, calling the act an assault on journalism.
Early on Sunday morning, Israeli troopers raided the bureau of the Qatar-based community and ordered its closure for 45 days.
The raid, captured on stay TV, confirmed closely armed Israeli troops handing an Israeli army court docket order to Al Jazeera’s bureau chief Walid al-Omari, informing him of the closure.
Al-Omari later stated the court docket order accused Al Jazeera of “incitement to and help of terrorism” and that the Israeli troopers confiscated the bureau’s cameras earlier than leaving.
“Focusing on journalists this fashion goals to erase the reality and stop folks from listening to the reality,” he stated.
Throughout the raid, Israeli troopers additionally tore down posters of slain Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, which have been displayed on the partitions of the bureau, al-Omari stated.
The Ramallah workplace raid got here 5 months after Israel shut the news channel’s operations in occupied East Jerusalem and took it off cable suppliers.
‘Relentless assault’
In an announcement, the Committee to Shield Journalists stated it was “deeply alarmed” by the Israeli raid, simply months after Israel shuttered Al Jazeera’s operations in Israel after deeming it a menace to nationwide safety.
“Israel’s efforts to censor Al Jazeera severely undermine the general public’s proper to data on a conflict that has upended so many lives within the area,” it stated.
“Al Jazeera’s journalists have to be allowed to report at this vital time, and at all times.”
In a quick assertion on X, Reporters With out Borders (RSF) stated it “denounces Israel’s relentless assault” on Al Jazeera. RSF had beforehand known as for the repeal of an Israeli regulation that enables the federal government to close down overseas media in Israel, “concentrating on Al Jazeera channel”.
No witnesses allowed. https://t.co/jrZSRT8ONq
— Francesca Albanese, UN Particular Rapporteur oPt (@FranceskAlbs) September 22, 2024
The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate denounced Israel’s “arbitrary army determination”, calling it “a brand new aggression in opposition to journalistic work and media retailers”.
“We name on the entities and establishments involved with journalists’ rights to sentence this determination and cease its implementation,” the group stated.
The Palestinian Authority stated the Israeli operation in opposition to Al Jazeera in Ramallah was “a flagrant violation” of press freedom.
‘Affront to press freedom’
Al Jazeera has been offering intensive protection of Israel’s nearly-year-long army offensive in Gaza and of a parallel surge in violence in opposition to Palestinians within the occupied West Financial institution.
Four Al Jazeera journalists have been killed because the conflict in Gaza started, and the community’s workplace within the besieged territory was bombed. A complete of 173 journalists have been killed in Gaza because the conflict started in October final 12 months. Israel claims it doesn’t goal journalists.
The Al Jazeera community, which is funded by the Qatari authorities, has additionally rejected accusations that it harmed Israel’s safety as a “harmful and ridiculous lie” that places its journalists in danger.
Israeli Minister of Communications Shlomo Karhi justified Sunday’s closure of Al Jazeera’s bureau, calling the community “the mouthpiece” of Gaza’s Hamas and Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah.
“We’ll proceed to battle the enemy channels and make sure the security of our heroic fighters,” he stated.
In a statement, nonetheless, the Al Jazeera Media Community stated it “vehemently condemns and denounces this prison act by the Israeli occupation forces”.
“Al Jazeera rejects the draconian actions, and the unfounded allegations introduced by Israeli authorities to justify these unlawful raids,” it stated.
“The raid on the workplace and seizure of our tools will not be solely an assault on Al Jazeera however an affront to press freedom and the very rules of journalism.”
‘An even bigger West Financial institution onslaught’
Rami Khouri, a Center East skilled on the American College in Beirut, stated the closure of Al Jazeera’s Ramallah workplace is consistent with the coverage of Israel since 1948, “which is to stop actual information concerning the Palestinians”.
“It most likely signifies that there’s going to be an even bigger onslaught… of Israeli violence everywhere in the West Financial institution. And the first instrument for informing the world about what Israel is doing will not be going to be out there to do it,” he stated.
Mouin Rabbani, a non-resident fellow on the Middle for Battle and Humanitarian Research, stated the choice to close down Al Jazeera’s bureau in Ramallah reveals that Israel “clearly has one thing very critical to cover”.
“On this specific case, for those who don’t just like the publicity of genocide within the context of an unlawful occupation, you shoot the messenger.”