Press freedom teams and rights activists have condemned the Israeli army forcibly shutting down Al Jazeera’s workplace 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 courtroom order to Al Jazeera’s bureau chief Walid al-Omari, informing him of the closure.
Al-Omari later mentioned the courtroom order accused Al Jazeera of “incitement to and assist of terrorism” and that the Israeli troopers confiscated the bureau’s cameras earlier than leaving.
“Concentrating on journalists this manner goals to erase the reality and forestall individuals from listening to the reality,” he mentioned.
In the course of 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 mentioned.
The Ramallah workplace raid got here 5 months after Israel shut the information channel’s operations in occupied East Jerusalem and took it off cable suppliers.
‘Relentless assault’
In an announcement, the Committee to Shield Journalists mentioned 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 info on a struggle that has upended so many lives within the area,” it mentioned.
“Al Jazeera’s journalists have to be allowed to report at this crucial time, and all the time.”
In a short assertion on X, Reporters With out Borders (RSF) mentioned it “denounces Israel’s relentless assault” on Al Jazeera. RSF had beforehand known as for the repeal of an Israeli regulation that permits the federal government to close down international 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 mentioned.
The Palestinian Authority mentioned 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 in depth 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.
4 Al Jazeera journalists have been killed for the reason that struggle in Gaza started, and the community’s workplace within the besieged territory was bombed. A complete of 173 journalists have been killed in Gaza for the reason that struggle started in October final yr. 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 struggle the enemy channels and make sure the security of our heroic fighters,” he mentioned.
In an announcement, nonetheless, the Al Jazeera Media Community mentioned it “vehemently condemns and denounces this prison act by the Israeli occupation forces”.
“Al Jazeera rejects the draconian actions, and the unfounded allegations offered by Israeli authorities to justify these unlawful raids,” it mentioned.
“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.”
‘A much bigger West Financial institution onslaught’
Rami Khouri, a Center East professional on the American College in Beirut, mentioned the closure of Al Jazeera’s Ramallah workplace is consistent with the coverage of Israel since 1948, “which is to forestall actual information concerning the Palestinians”.
“It in all probability signifies that there’s going to be a much 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 mentioned.
Mouin Rabbani, a non-resident fellow on the Middle for Battle and Humanitarian Research, mentioned the choice to close down Al Jazeera’s bureau in Ramallah exhibits that Israel “clearly has one thing very severe to cover”.
“On this specific case, should you don’t just like the publicity of genocide within the context of an unlawful occupation, you shoot the messenger.”