Israeli troops conducted a raid on the offices of the satellite news network Al Jazeera in the Israeli-occupied West Bank early Sunday (September 22), ordering the bureau to close for 45 days. This action is part of a broader campaign by Israel targeting the Qatar-funded broadcaster as it covers the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
Al Jazeera broadcast footage live on its Arabic channel showing Israeli soldiers issuing the closure order. This latest incident follows a significant event in May when Israeli police raided Al Jazeera’s broadcast location in East Jerusalem, confiscating equipment and halting its broadcasts within Israel while blocking access to its websites.
Al Jazeera aired live footage of Israeli troops on its Arabic-language channel as they delivered the shutdown order. The raid follows a previous incident in May when Israeli police raided the network’s broadcast position in East Jerusalem, seizing equipment and preventing its broadcasts within Israel.
This marked the first time Israel has shut down a foreign news outlet operating in the country. Despite the restrictions in Israel, Al Jazeera has continued its coverage from the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, territories that Palestinians hope to include in a future state.
At the time of the raid, there was no immediate acknowledgement from Israeli forces and the Israeli military did not respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press. Meanwhile, Al Jazeera condemned the shutdown while continuing its live broadcasts from Amman, Jordan.
‘Take all the cameras and leave’
Israeli troops entered the Al Jazeera office and told a reporter live on air that it would be closed for 45 days, ordering staff to leave immediately. “There is a court ruling for closing down Al Jazeera for 45 days,” a soldier can be heard saying as the network broadcast the conversation live on television. “I ask you to take all the cameras and leave the office at this moment,” the soldier added.