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Palestinian Authority suspends Al Jazeera operations in West Bank

The Palestinian Authority (PA) has temporarily suspended Al Jazeera’s operations in the West Bank, accusing the network of broadcasting “inciting materials.” Al Jazeera condemns the move, calling it an attempt to suppress coverage of escalating events and violations of press freedom.

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The Palestinian Authority (PA) has temporarily suspended Al Jazeera’s operations in the occupied West Bank, accusing the broadcaster of airing “inciting materials” and “misleading reports” that allegedly provoke strife and interfere in Palestinian internal affairs.

The decision, announced on Wednesday (1 Jan), follows growing tensions between the PA and the Qatar-based network.

A ministerial committee, comprising officials from the culture, interior, and communications ministries, determined that Al Jazeera had violated Palestinian laws and regulations.

As part of the suspension, all activities of Al Jazeera journalists and staff, along with its affiliated channels, have been halted until the network rectifies its legal status.

The PA did not specify the duration of the suspension.

This move comes after Fatah, the dominant faction within the PA, banned Al Jazeera from reporting in the governorates of Jenin, Qalqilya, and Tubas in December.

The ban was in response to the broadcaster’s coverage of clashes between Palestinian security forces and armed groups.

Fatah accused Al Jazeera of sowing discord within Palestine and the wider Arab world.

“This decision comes as a result of the dangerous role played by Al Jazeera in our Arab world in general, and in Palestine in particular, by sowing discord and inciting internal strife,” Fatah said in a statement.

The faction further claimed that the network was aligning with Zionist-American efforts against Arab and Palestinian causes.

Al Jazeera Responds

Al Jazeera Media Network has strongly condemned the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) decision to suspend its operations in the West Bank, describing it as “an attempt to dissuade the channel from covering the rapidly escalating events taking place in the occupied territories.”

The network criticised the move as part of an ongoing campaign of incitement and intimidation by PA-associated parties against its journalists and correspondents.

Al Jazeera said the decision to freeze its operations aims to conceal the truth about developments in areas like Jenin and its camps, where significant events are unfolding.

Adding to its concerns, Al Jazeera noted that this decision aligns with a previous action by the Israeli government, which closed the network’s office in Ramallah.

The network expressed shock that such a move was taken while the war on Gaza continues, and amid the systematic targeting and killing of Palestinian journalists by Israeli forces.

Al Jazeera holds the PA fully responsible for the safety and security of its employees in the West Bank.

The network has called on the PA to immediately reverse the decision and allow its teams to operate without threats or intimidation.

Despite the suspension, Al Jazeera has reaffirmed its commitment to professional and impartial reporting, stating that this decision will not deter it from covering events and developments in the West Bank.

Reactions from Journalists and Media Organisations

The PA’s decision has sparked outrage among journalists and media organisations.

Mustafa Barghouti, secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative, called the move a “big mistake” and urged the PA to reverse it.

He highlighted Al Jazeera’s role in exposing crimes against Palestinians and promoting the Palestinian cause, framing the suspension as a press freedom issue.

At Gaza’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital, journalists voiced their disapproval.

Freelance journalist Ikhlas al-Qarnawi described the decision as “a crime against journalism,” noting that Al Jazeera has documented Israeli actions against Palestinians.

Veteran photojournalist Yousef Hassouna emphasised the importance of Al Jazeera as a platform, particularly during critical times.

“Now more than ever, we Palestinian journalists need international support and protection, not limitations or restrictions,” Hassouna said.

Al Jazeera reported that between 7 October 2023, and 25 December 2024, at least 217 journalists and media workers were killed in Gaza. On 26 December, five more were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting a news van near al-Awda Hospital.

Ismail al-Thawabtah, spokesperson for Gaza’s government media bureau, criticised the PA for recent actions, including its handling of clashes in Jenin and the closure of Al Jazeera’s office.

He urged the PA to review its policies in line with national interests and the rights of the Palestinian people.

The Foreign Press Association (FPA), which represents international media in Israel and the Palestinian territories, expressed “grave concern” over the PA’s decision.

In a statement posted on social media on Thursday (2 Jan), the FPA urged the PA to reconsider the suspension and engage in constructive dialogue with Al Jazeera, stressing the network’s value as a reliable source of information on the situation in Palestine, including Gaza.

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