Al Jazeera Media Network has condemned the recent raid by Israeli forces on its Ramallah office, calling it an attack on press freedom and violation of the basic principles of journalism. The raid on Sunday saw Israeli occupation forces storm Al Jazeera’s office in the occupied West Bank and order its immediate closure, following a decision by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet in May 2024 to shut down the network’s operations in Israel.
Al Jazeera denounced this act as a “criminal” and “draconian” move by the Israeli authorities, rejecting the “unfounded allegations” used to justify the raid. The network stated that the seizure of its equipment and the raid on its office are attempts to silence its voice and prevent the world from witnessing the truth of the ongoing war on Gaza and the occupation of Palestinian territories.
Al Jazeera emphasized that despite these oppressive measures, it remains committed to its mission of reporting the truth with integrity, vowing not to be intimidated or deterred. The network reiterated its pledge to continue its coverage of Gaza and the occupied territories, highlighting that these actions are aimed at hiding the reality of the conflict and its devastating impact on innocent civilians.
Al Jazeera accused the Israeli government of suppressing the free press to conceal its actions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, violating international and humanitarian law. The network further condemned the targeting and killing of journalists, along with arrests, intimidation, and threats, and called on global organizations advocating for media freedom and human rights to stand against these repeated attacks.
Holding Netanyahu’s government accountable for the violation of rights of its journalists, Al Jazeera announced its intention to pursue all available legal avenues to protect its rights, its journalists, and the public’s right to information.
