Israeli Soldiers Close Al Jazeera’s Ramallah Bureau In West Bank For 45 Days

Israeli soldiers raided Al Jazeera’s bureau in Ramallah, located in the occupied West Bank, on Sunday, ordering its closure for 45 days. Heavily armed, masked soldiers forcefully entered the building, delivering the closure order to the bureau’s chief, Walid al-Omari. The raid was accompanied by the sound of gunfire and teargas near the office. Israeli authorities provided no explanation for the decision.

Nida Ibrahim, a journalist for Al Jazeera in Ramallah, stated that while they had heard threats from Israeli officials about shutting down the bureau, the raid came unexpectedly. She explained that Israeli authorities had discussed closing the office and requested the military in the West Bank to take action, but the timing of Sunday’s raid was a surprise.

This raid follows a ban earlier this year in May, when Israel prohibited Al Jazeera from operating within the country. The original closure order in May was for 45 days but has since been extended, preventing Al Jazeera’s journalists from reporting inside Israel.

After the raid, al-Omari expressed concern over Israeli forces potentially damaging the office, condemning the attack on journalists as an effort to suppress the truth. Human rights groups and media organizations have strongly criticized the move, calling it a violation of press freedom.