Palestinian Authority suspends Al Jazeera broadcasts

Photos of slain Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh are hung throughout the facade of the constructing housing the Doha-based Al-Jazeera TV channel within the occupied-West Financial institution metropolis of Ramallah on January 2, 2025
| Photograph Credit score: AFP

The Palestinian Authority has ordered the suspension of broadcasts by Qatar-based Al Jazeera throughout the Palestinian territories, accusing the community of incitement, official media reported.

Al Jazeera is already banned from broadcasting from Israel amid a long-running feud with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s authorities.

In September, armed and masked Israeli forces additionally raided the Al Jazeera workplace within the occupied West Financial institution metropolis of Ramallah, saying it was “used to incite terror.” The navy issued an preliminary 45-day closure order, prompting the Palestinian international ministry to sentence “a flagrant violation” of press freedom.

Late Wednesday, the official Palestinian information company Wafa stated “Al Jazeera‘s insistence on broadcasting inciting content material and studies characterised by misinformation, incitement, sedition and interference in Palestinian inside affairs” led to its suspension.

An Al Jazeera worker contacted by AFP confirmed that the community’s workplace in Ramallah had acquired a suspension order on Wednesday.

“The specialised ministerial committee, comprising the ministries of tradition, inside and communications, has determined to droop broadcasts and freeze all actions of Al Jazeera satellite tv for pc channel and its workplace in Palestine,” Wafa reported.

“The choice additionally contains briefly freezing the work of all journalists, workers, crews and affiliated channels till their authorized standing is rectified as a result of Al Jazeera’s violations of the legal guidelines and laws in drive in Palestine,” it stated.

The community condemned the choice in a press release, saying it “aligns with Israeli occupation practices focusing on its media groups”.

It accused the Palestinian Authority, which has partial administrative management within the West Financial institution, of “making an attempt to discourage Al Jazeera from protecting escalating occasions within the occupied Palestinian territories” together with in Jenin and its refugee camp.

The PA’s safety forces have been engaged in weeks of lethal clashes with armed militants in Jenin, within the northern West Financial institution.

In a while Wednesday, the channel aired photos of what gave the impression to be Palestinian safety officers coming into the community’s workplace in Ramallah and handing over the suspension orders.

Militant group Hamas, rivals of Fatah which dominates the PA, condemned the choice to ban the community.

“This resolution aligns with a sequence of current arbitrary actions taken by the Authority to curtail public rights and freedoms, and to strengthen its safety grip on the Palestinian folks,” Hamas stated in a press release.

“We name on the Palestinian Authority to instantly reverse this resolution … It’s essential to make sure the continuation of media protection that exposes the occupation and helps the steadfastness of our folks.”

‘Incitement marketing campaign’

Islamic Jihad, allied with Hamas within the Gaza Strip, additionally criticised the choice.

“We condemn the authority’s resolution to shut Al Jazeera’s workplace in Palestine when our folks and our trigger are in dire have to convey their struggling to the world,” the group stated in a press release.

Tensions between the Doha-based community and the Fatah motion of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas have risen in current weeks following the channel’s protection of the clashes in Jenin.

In late December, the channel condemned what it stated was an “incitement marketing campaign” by Fatah towards the community in some areas of the occupied West Financial institution.

“This marketing campaign follows the community’s protection of clashes between Palestinian safety forces and resistance fighters in Jenin,” it stated in a press release on the time.

“Throughout its protection of the tragic occasions in Jenin, Al Jazeera ensured the presence of all voices, together with these of the resistance fighters and the spokesperson for the Palestinian safety forces.”

The safety forces of the PA have been engaged in lethal clashes with gunmen since early December, triggered by the arrests of a number of militants.

They’re combating members of the Jenin Battalion, most of whom are affiliated with both Islamic Jihad or Hamas, whose October 7, 2023 assault on Israel triggered the Gaza conflict.

Al Jazeera continues to work in Gaza, the place Hamas seized management in 2007.

The violence in Jenin refugee camp, a stronghold of armed teams and a frequent goal of Israeli navy raids, has killed 11 folks together with PA safety personnel, militants and civilians.