Israeli Raid on Al Jazeera Bureau:

On September 22, 2024, Israeli soldiers raided Al Jazeera’s bureau in Ramallah, located in the occupied West Bank. Heavily armed and masked soldiers entered the building, handing a 45-day closure order to the network’s West Bank bureau chief, Walid al-Omari. The order accused Al Jazeera of “incitement to and support of terrorism.”

Confiscation of Equipment and Tear Gas Use:

According to Jivara Budeiri, an Al Jazeera correspondent, Israeli forces used tear gas near the bureau and al-Manara Square, and confiscated cameras during the raid. She also expressed concern that Israeli soldiers might attempt to destroy Al Jazeera’s archives, stored in the office.

Israeli Vehicles Withdraw:

After conducting the raid and delivering the closure order, Israeli military vehicles withdrew from Ramallah.

Previous Ban and Media Suppression:

The closure of the Ramallah office follows an earlier ban on Al Jazeera reporting from inside Israel, imposed in May 2024, after 11 months of the devastating war in Gaza. The ban, originally for 45 days, was renewed, and Al Jazeera journalists remain prohibited from reporting inside Israel.

Concerns About Targeting Journalists:

Bureau chief Walid al-Omari raised concerns about Israeli actions, stating: “Targeting journalists this way always aims to erase the truth and prevent people from hearing the truth.”

Condemnation by the Government Media Office in Gaza:

The Government Media Office in Gaza called the raid a “deafening scandal” and urged global media and human rights organizations to condemn what they described as a blatant violation of press freedom.

Palestinian Authority's Jurisdiction:

Mostafa Barghouti, secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative, emphasized that Israel had no legal right to close any office in Ramallah, which is part of Area A, under the security and civil administration of the Palestinian Authority (PA). He added that Al Jazeera’s license was issued by the PA. He criticized Israel, stating: “This is the real face of Israel, a country that claims to be a democracy and claims to support freedom of the press.”

Hamas Response:

Izzat al-Risheq, a member of Hamas’s political bureau, called the closure a “retaliatory measure” against Al Jazeera’s professional role in exposing Israeli crimes. He described the move as part of a “declared war against journalists” aimed at hiding the truth about Israeli occupation.

Ongoing Killings and Silencing of Journalists:

Media rights groups condemned Israeli actions, pointing out that since the start of the war in October 2023, Israeli forces have killed 173 journalists, including international reporters. Al Jazeera journalists Ismail al-Ghoul and Samer Abudaqa were among those killed. In addition, Ismail Abu Omar, an Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent, was severely injured in an Israeli strike in February.

Prior to the ongoing war, in 2022, Israeli forces killed veteran Al Jazeera correspondent Shireen Abu Akleh while she was reporting from Jenin, in the occupied West Bank. In 2021, Israeli forces bombed a tower in Gaza that housed Al Jazeera’s offices.

Al Jazeera's Condemnation:

Al Jazeera condemned the ongoing suppression, calling it a “criminal act” that violates human rights and the basic right to access information. The network stated that Israel’s efforts to suppress the free press aim to conceal its actions in Gaza and violate international and humanitarian law. Despite intimidation, arrests, and killings, Al Jazeera reiterated its commitment to reporting.

Implications of the Raid:

The raid underscores Israel’s control over the occupied West Bank, even in areas under Palestinian Authority jurisdiction, like Ramallah. It also followed a recent UN General Assembly vote calling for an end to the Israeli occupation.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/22/israeli-soldiers-raid-al-jazeera-office-in-ramallah