Heavily armed Israeli soldiers raided Al Jazeera’s occupied West Bank bureau in Ramallah on live television, ordering the overnight shift workers to leave with only their personal belongings. Despite being in an area under Palestinian control, Israel has taken actions in this region before. The closure was due to accusations of incitement and supporting terrorism, with Al Jazeera being a primary source of informing the world about Israel’s violations in Palestinian territories.
The team working in the bureau was unable to retrieve their belongings or cover the raid, as they were threatened with weapons. The team was left unharmed but unable to access the bureau as military vehicles surrounded the building. The closure order is for 45 days, but may be automatically renewed based on previous incidents with the Al Jazeera bureau in Israel.
Bureau head al-Omari was informed that any inquiries should be directed to the military command, indicating the process may involve military courts and indefinite administrative detentions. The team remains unable to access the bureau, which is sealed off with metal plates over the entrance. This situation highlights ongoing tensions between Israel and Al Jazeera, with actions taken against the bureau raising concerns about press freedom and the ability to report on Palestinian territories.
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Photo credit www.aljazeera.com