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PA arrests Al Jazeera crew near Ofer Prison

January 20, 2025 at 12:47 pm

Al Jazeera journalist, Givara Budeiri, is seen after her release from a police station in East Jerusalem, on June 6, 2021 [AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images]

The Palestinian Authority’s security forces yesterday arrested Al Jazeera staff near Ofer Prison, located in the city of Beitunia, west of occupied Ramallah.

The crew was transferred to the Baloua Police station for questioning.

Among those arrested were the channel’s correspondent, Givara Budeiri, her cameraperson and another member of the team. The team had been covering events near Ofer Prison where Palestinian detainees were being released as part of the Gaza ceasefire deal, with the correspondent appearing live on air just minutes before the arrest.

This arrest follows the earlier detention of a photographer and a worker from the Associated Press by Palestinian security forces yesterday.

They were held for about two hours before being released.

Earlier this month, the Palestinian Authority announced the suspension of all broadcasting activities by Al Jazeera and its affiliated office in Palestine. The temporary suspension also includes halting the work of all journalists, staff and affiliated channels until the network’s legal status is resolved.

Read: Palestinian Authority bans political analysts from appearing on Al Jazeera