Al Jazeera recently aired live footage of Israeli soldiers entering its offices in Ramallah, located in the occupied West Bank, and issuing a directive to shut down the office for a period of 45 days. The video captured the moment when soldiers entered the office, instructing the staff to vacate the premises immediately.
The soldiers presented a military order to the bureau chief, informing him of the mandated closure and directing the staff to gather their personal belongings and cameras before leaving the premises. Al Jazeera's office in Ramallah has been a longstanding operational hub for the network, particularly following the closure of its Jerusalem office by Israeli authorities in May.
The closure of the Jerusalem office and the seizure of communication equipment by Israeli forces had drawn criticism from various quarters, including the United Nations and human rights organizations, who condemned the actions as an attempt to curtail press freedoms.
Following the evacuation of Al Jazeera staff from the Ramallah office, live footage showed soldiers taking control of the premises and confiscating materials. The broadcast equipment used by the team was also seized by the soldiers, as captured in the live feed before it was abruptly cut off.
