Indignation in Palestine at Israel’s closure of Al Jazeera

The Palestinian Ministry of Information stood in solidarity with Al Jazeera media network this morning against the decision of Israeli authorities to shut its offices in occupied Jerusalem and to withdraw the work permits of their correspondents inside Israel.

Officials of the Ministry of Information and staff at Al Jazeera’s office participated in a protest in Gaza, in addition to several journalists, representatives of various media outlets and writers.

Head of the media office Salameh Maarouf condemned the decision of the Minister of Communications in the Israeli government to withdraw work permits from Al Jazeera journalists in Jerusalem and prevent its correspondents from covering crimes committed by the occupation in Palestine.

Read: Gazans protest in support of Al Jazeera

Maarouf praised the great and professional role of Al Jazeera in reporting events and developments to people, especially their coverage of recent events in Jerusalem.

He also condemned statements by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accusing Al Jazeera of inciting violence during its coverage of recent events at Al-Aqsa Mosque.

The head of the media office considered the occupation’s decision against Al Jazeera to be a violation of all international laws and norms that give the viewer the right to freely access information.

Wael Al-Dahdouh, director of Al Jazeera in Gaza, stressed the importance of continuing their work and conveying a sincere message to Arab viewers wherever they are and to cover all Palestinian events, despite the unjust and illegal decisions made by Israeli authorities.

#FreedomOfPress

Al-Dahdouh denounced the decision taken by a state that claims to be the only democratic state in the Middle East. He expressed his surprise that the Israeli Minister of Communications announced – in his justification of the decision – that it is compatible with what other Arab countries did when they shut down the offices of the network.

Al Jazeera’s director confirmed that the network will take appropriate legal and judicial measures. It will also continue to cover events in Palestine professionally and objectively, according to the press regulations set by international bodies such as Ofcom.

Several Palestinian factions expressed their strong condemnation of and indignation at the closure of Al Jazeera’s office in occupied Jerusalem, stressing that it is “infringing freedom of opinion and expression”.

Demonstrations including press members from Government Information Office hold placards as they gather to protest the closure of the pan-Arab Al Jazeera television [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Demonstrations including press members from Government Information Office hold placards as they gather to protest the closure of the pan-Arab Al Jazeera television [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Demonstrations including press members from Government Information Office hold placards as they gather to protest the closure of the pan-Arab Al Jazeera television [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Demonstrations including press members from Government Information Office hold placards as they gather to protest the closure of the pan-Arab Al Jazeera television [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Demonstrations including press members from Government Information Office hold placards as they gather to protest the closure of the pan-Arab Al Jazeera television [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]

Demonstrations including press members from Government Information Office hold placards as they gather to protest the closure of the pan-Arab Al Jazeera television [Mohammed Asad/Middle East Monitor]