Israeli forces raid Al Jazeera office in West Bank, order staff to leave

PTC News Desk: On Sunday, Israeli soldiers conducted a raid on the West Bank office of Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera, issuing a closure order that requires the network to cease operations for 45 days. The incident unfolded during a live broadcast when armed and masked Israeli troops entered the building and instructed the staff to take their cameras and leave immediately.

During the raid, the soldiers presented a closure order to Walid al-Omari, Al Jazeera’s West Bank bureau chief. He read the order live on air before the broadcast was abruptly interrupted. Al Jazeera captured footage of the Israeli forces storming their office and delivering the closure notice.

The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate condemned the Israeli action, labeling it an “arbitrary military decision” and a significant violation of journalistic rights. They stated that such actions undermine media operations that aim to expose the alleged crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian people.

This latest raid follows a similar incident in May, when Israeli forces raided a hotel room in Jerusalem used by Al Jazeera as its local office. The Israeli government had previously decided to shut down the network’s operations, claiming that its activities posed a threat to national security. The ongoing targeting of Al Jazeera has raised concerns about press freedom and the safety of journalists working in the region.

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