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NBCSep 21
Israel Closes Al Jazeera's West Bank Bureau for 45 Days
Above: Israeli soldiers close Al Jazeera television's office in Ramallah, West Bank on Sept. 22, 2024. Image copyright: Issam Rimawi/Contributor/Anadolu via Getty Images
The Facts
Israeli forces on Sunday raided Al Jazeera's office in Ramallah, West Bank, confiscated its equipment, and issued the news broadcaster a 45-day closure order.
The raid, which was broadcast live, was carried out by heavily armed and masked Israeli soldiers. The IDF alleged the media network's West Bank offices were being used to "incite terror." However, Al Jazeera denied the accusations.
The Spin
Pro-Israel narrative
There's substantial evidence that Al Jazeera allows Hamas to use its facilities to incite and support terrorist activities aimed at endangering Israel's security. Additionally, the Qatar-based network has been incredibly biased in its coverage of Israel and the conflict in Gaza, effectively serving as a mouthpiece for Hamas.
Pro-Palestine narrative
This decision attacks the very principles of journalism, violates the fundamental right to access information, and threatens press freedom. By closing Al Jazeera's West Bank office, Israel has once again attempted to silence a diverse and free media reporting ground realities of its illegal war in Gaza and against the Palestinian people.