Al Jazeera has strongly condemned the recent Israeli military raid and subsequent closure of its office in the occupied West Bank. The network labeled the actions as a 'criminal act' and vowed to continue its journalism coverage of the war in Gaza despite the setback.
The Israeli soldiers were seen entering the Al Jazeera office in the West Bank and ordering its closure for a period of 45 days. The bureau chief received a military order instructing staff members to evacuate the premises within ten minutes, allowing them only to take personal belongings and cameras.
When questioned about the reason for the closure, the soldiers referred to the written military order provided to the Al Jazeera team. The network expressed outrage at what it described as 'oppressive measures' aimed at concealing the reality of the situation in the occupied territories and the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has had a devastating impact on innocent civilians.
Al Jazeera has pledged to hold the Israeli government accountable for the safety of its journalists and stated its intention to pursue legal avenues through international institutions to protect its rights and those of its journalists. The closure of the Ramallah office comes after Israel shut down Al Jazeera's Jerusalem office earlier in May, seizing communication equipment in the process.
The move by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to restrict press freedoms has drawn criticism from the United Nations and human rights organizations. Al Jazeera's office in Ramallah, operational for decades, played a crucial role in reporting on events in the region, making the network's commitment to continuing its coverage all the more significant.
