Press freedom groups and rights activists have strongly condemned the Israeli military for forcibly shutting down Al Jazeera’s office in Ramallah, in the West Bank, calling it an assault on journalism. The raid, captured on live TV, showed Israeli soldiers raiding the office, accusing Al Jazeera of incitement to terrorism and support of terrorism, and ordering its closure for 45 days. The soldiers also tore down posters of a slain Palestinian American journalist during the raid.
The Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders both expressed alarm at the Israeli raid, calling it a relentless assault on press freedom. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate also denounced the Israeli military’s actions as an attack on journalistic work and media outlets. The Palestinian Authority called it a flagrant violation of press freedom.
Al Jazeera has been providing extensive coverage of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza and violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Israeli Minister of Communications justified the closure, accusing Al Jazeera of being a mouthpiece for Hamas and Hezbollah. However, Al Jazeera has rejected these accusations as unfounded and dangerous.
Experts believe that the closure of Al Jazeera’s bureau in Ramallah signifies a larger onslaught of Israeli violence in the West Bank and an attempt to prevent real news about the Palestinians from reaching the world. The decision to shut down the bureau is seen as an attempt by Israel to hide serious issues, such as genocide and illegal occupation. Overall, the closure of Al Jazeera’s office has sparked outrage and concern among press freedom advocates and rights groups.
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Photo credit www.aljazeera.com
