Press freedom teams and human rights activists have condemned the Israeli army’s pressured closure of Al Jazeera’s workplace in Ramallah within the occupied West Financial institution, calling it an assault on journalism.
Early on Sunday morning, Israeli troopers raided the Qatar-based community’s workplace and ordered it closed for 45 days.
The raid, captured stay on tv, confirmed closely armed Israeli troops handing an Israeli army court docket order to Al Jazeera’s bureau chief, Walid al-Omari, informing him of the closure.
Al-Omari later mentioned the court docket order accused Al Jazeera of “inciting and supporting terrorism” and that Israeli troopers confiscated the company’s cameras earlier than leaving.
“Attacking journalists on this method is meant to erase the reality and stop 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 that have been displayed on the partitions of the workplace, al-Omari mentioned.
The raid on the Ramallah workplace got here 5 months after Israel shut down the information channel’s operations in occupied East Jerusalem and eliminated it from cable suppliers.
‘Relentless assault’
In a press release, the Committee to Shield Journalists mentioned it was “deeply alarmed” by the Israeli raid, simply months after Israel shut down Al Jazeera’s operations in Israel after deeming it a menace to nationwide safety.
“Israel’s efforts to censor Al Jazeera critically undermine the general public’s proper to details about a conflict that has disrupted so many lives within the area,” he mentioned.
“Al Jazeera journalists should be capable of report at this crucial second, 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 referred to as for the repeal of an Israeli regulation that enables the federal government to close down international media shops in Israel, “focusing on the Al Jazeera channel.”
No witnesses allowed. https://t.co/jrZSRT8ONq
— Francesca Albanese, United Nations Particular Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories (@FranceskAlbs) September 22, 2024
The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate has denounced Israel’s “arbitrary army choice,” calling it “a brand new assault on journalistic work and the media.”
“We name on entities and establishments involved in regards to the rights of journalists to sentence this choice and cease its implementation,” the group mentioned.
The Palestinian Authority has referred to as the Israeli operation towards Al Jazeera in Ramallah a “flagrant violation” of press freedom.
‘An affront to press freedom’
Al Jazeera has been offering in depth protection of Israel’s almost year-long army offensive in Gaza and a parallel surge in violence towards Palestinians within the occupied West Financial institution.
4 Al Jazeera journalists have been killed because the conflict in Gaza started, and the community’s workplace within the besieged territory was bombed. A complete of 173 journalists have been killed in Gaza because the conflict started in October final 12 months. Israel says it doesn’t goal journalists.
Qatari government-funded Al Jazeera has additionally rejected accusations that it harms Israel’s safety, calling them a “harmful and ridiculous lie” that places its journalists in danger.
Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi justified the closure of Al Jazeera’s workplace on Sunday, calling the community “the mouthpiece” of Hamas in Gaza and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“We are going to proceed to combat towards enemy channels and make sure the security of our heroic fighters,” he mentioned.
Nonetheless, in a press release, Al Jazeera mentioned it “strongly condemns and denounces this legal act by the Israeli occupation forces.”
“Al Jazeera rejects the draconian actions and baseless accusations put ahead by the Israeli authorities to justify these unlawful raids,” it mentioned.
“The raid on our places of work and the confiscation of our tools is just not solely an assault on Al Jazeera however an affront to press freedom and the very rules of journalism.”
‘A significant assault within the West Financial institution’
Rami Khouri, a Center East professional on the American College of Beirut, mentioned the closure of Al Jazeera’s Ramallah workplace was in step with Israel’s coverage since 1948, “which is to forestall actual information in regards to the Palestinians.”
“That can possible imply that there can be a good better onslaught… of Israeli violence throughout the West Financial institution. And the principle instrument for informing the world about what Israel is doing is not going to be accessible to take action,” he mentioned.
Mouin Rabbani, a non-resident fellow on the Heart for Humanitarian and Battle Research, mentioned the choice to shut Al Jazeera’s Ramallah bureau reveals that Israel “clearly has one thing very critical to cover.”
“On this explicit case, in case you do not just like the genocide being uncovered within the context of an unlawful occupation, you kill the messenger.”
