Israeli Troops Raid and Close Al Jazeera’s West Bank Bureau, Reports Reuters

By Andrew Mills

DOHA – Israeli forces conducted a raid on the bureau of media network Al Jazeera in Ramallah, West Bank, early Sunday morning, serving the network with a military order to cease operations. Both the media network and the Israeli military provided details on the incident.

The Qatar-based channel broadcast live footage as Israeli troops entered the office with their weapons drawn, presenting a military court order to Ramallah bureau chief Walid al-Omari, which mandated the bureau’s closure for a period of 45 days.

In a response to inquiries, the Israeli military confirmed the sealing of the channel’s offices and the confiscation of its equipment. They stated that the closure was a result of an intelligence assessment indicating that the office was being utilized "to incite terror" and support terrorist activities.

The military’s statement asserted that the broadcasts posed a threat to security and public order in the region and across Israel.

Al Jazeera condemned the raid as a "criminal act" and called on the Israeli government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to ensure the safety of its journalists. The network declared its intent to pursue legal action to defend its rights and vowed to continue its reporting. "Al Jazeera rejects the draconian actions and the unfounded allegations by Israeli authorities to justify these illegal raids," they stated.

Al-Omari mentioned that the order he received accused Al Jazeera of "incitement to and support of terrorism," adding that soldiers confiscated cameras from the bureau before departing.

Israeli communications minister Shlomo Karhi confirmed the closure, labeling Al Jazeera as "the mouthpiece" of Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran. He affirmed the government’s commitment to counteracting what he termed "enemy channels" to ensure the safety of Israeli forces.

The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate condemned the Israeli action, deeming the military decision an infringement on journalistic freedoms and a violation against ongoing media efforts that highlight the occupation’s impact on the Palestinian people.

In May, the Israeli government prohibited Al Jazeera from operating within Israel, a decision endorsed by an Israeli court. They also raided the network’s office in a Jerusalem hotel, claiming its broadcasts threatened national security.

Al Jazeera, which asserts its neutrality and lack of affiliation with militant groups, has provided extensive coverage of Israel’s military operations in Gaza and the escalating violence in the West Bank. Unrest in the region has intensified since the onset of the Gaza war, characterized by regular Israeli military actions that have led to numerous arrests and conflicts between security forces and Palestinian militants, as well as violence involving settlers.

The network has previously rejected claims that its operations endanger Israeli security, labeling such accusations as a "dangerous and ridiculous lie" which endangers its journalists. The network has also accused Israeli authorities of deliberately targeting and killing several journalists, including Samer Abu Daqqa and Hamza AlDahdooh, during the ongoing conflict, while Israeli officials maintain that they do not target journalists.

Qatar, which established Al Jazeera in 1996, seeks to enhance its global standing through the network.

Moreover, Qatar, along with Egypt and the United States, has played a role in mediating ceasefire negotiations following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in hostages being taken. The Palestinian Authority, recognized internationally, maintains limited self-rule in the West Bank under Israeli occupation.