Israel extends closure of Al Jazeera's West Bank office

AFP , Tuesday 7 Jan 2025

Israeli authorities renewed a closure order for Al Jazeera's Ramallah office in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, days after the Palestinian Authority suspended the network's broadcasts for four months.

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Pictures of slain al-Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh hang on the facade of the building housing the television station’s office in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, after Israel issued a 45-day closure order on September 22, 2024. AP

Israeli authorities renewed a closure order for Al Jazeera's Ramallah office in the occupied West Bank on Tuesday, days after the Palestinian Authority suspended the network's broadcasts for four months.

An AFP journalist reported that Israeli soldiers posted the extension order Tuesday morning on the entrance of the building housing Al Jazeera's offices in central Ramallah, a city under full Palestinian Authority security control.

The extension applies from December 22 and lasts 45 days.

In September, Israeli forces raided the Ramallah office and issued an initial 45-day closure order.

At the time, staff were instructed to leave the premises and take their personal belongings.

The move came months after Israel's government approved a decision in May to ban Al Jazeera from broadcasting from Israel, also closing its offices for an initial 45-day period, which was extended for a fourth time by a Tel Aviv court in September.

Later in September, Israel's government announced it was revoking the press credentials of Al Jazeera journalists in the country.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has long been at odds with Al Jazeera, a dispute that has escalated since the war on Gaza began on 7 October.

The Qatari channel says Israel systematically targets its staff in Gaza.

* This article was edited by Ahram Online

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