Palestinian Authority orders 'suspension' of Al Jazeera's operations in West Bank

Palestinian Authority orders ‘suspension’ of Al Jazeera’s operations in West Bank

The Palestinian Authority (PA) yesterday suspended Al Jazeera’s operations in the occupied West Bank, closing its office in Ramallah and banning reporting from the area. The decision comes after… pic.twitter.com/AAnkpMy01X

— Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) January 2, 2025

The Palestinian Authority (PA) yesterday announced a temporary suspension of all Al Jazeera broadcasts within the Palestinian territories, accusing the Qatar-based network of spreading “inciting content.”

A ministerial committee, including the ministries of culture, interior, and communications accused Al Jazeera of airing reports that promote “material and reports that were deceiving and stirring strife” in the country.

The move comes amid escalating tensions between Al Jazeera and the Fatah-led PA, following the ongoing large-scale security operation conducted by PA security forces against Palestinian resistance factions in the city of Jenin. On 24 November, Fatah – the Palestinian faction which dominates the PA – banned Al Jazeera from Jenin.

The network has condemned the PA’s decision to shut down its operations in the occupied West Bank, labelling it a move “in line with the Israeli occupation’s actions against its staff.”

In a statement published this morning, the Qatar-based network criticised the PA’s decision as“nothing but an attempt to dissuade the channel from covering the rapidly escalating events taking place in the occupied territories,” the Qatar-based network said

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It further slammed Fatah, saying it had launched an “incitement campaign” against the network and its journalists in the occupied West Bank for its coverage of the clashes.

The network said it was “shocked by this decision, which comes at a time when the war on the Gaza Strip is still ongoing, and the systematic targeting and killing of Palestinian journalists by the Israeli occupation forces”. It said it holds the PA “fully responsible for the safety and security” of all its employees in the occupied West Bank.

Meanwhile, the PA, which engages in security coordination with Israel, has continued its crackdown in Jenin, located in the northern occupied West Bank.

Palestinian security forces launched an operation nearly three weeks ago against what they call “outlaws” in the Jenin refugee camp. According to local media, at least ten people have so far been killed in the campaign, including five security personnel and five civilians.

The Palestinian Authority is accused of targeting resistance fighters in the camp on behalf of the Israeli occupation.

Israel banned Al Jazeera from operating from its territory in May last year.

READ: Rights groups urge Palestinian Authority to end campaign in Jenin