DOHA, Qatar — Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based news network, has issued a strong condemnation following a raid by Israeli forces on its office in Ramallah, located in the occupied West Bank. The raid, which occurred on Sunday, resulted in a 45-day closure order for the office.
In a statement, Al Jazeera expressed its outrage, describing the incident as a “criminal act” and rejecting what it termed “unfounded allegations” from Israeli authorities that were used to justify the raid. The network emphasized that the closure of its West Bank office is part of an ongoing conflict between Al Jazeera and the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a situation that has escalated amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
The raid, which was broadcast live by Al Jazeera, involved the seizure of the network’s equipment. The organization stated that this action represents not just an attack on its operations but a broader assault on press freedom and journalistic principles. “These oppressive measures are clearly intended to prevent the world from witnessing the reality of the situation in the occupied territories and the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict on innocent civilians,” the statement continued.
Since May 5, Al Jazeera has been prohibited from broadcasting from Israel under a law enacted in April that targets media deemed harmful to Israeli national security. The network’s offices in Israel were initially closed for a 45-day period, which has since been renewed multiple times, further restricting its ability to report from the region.
