Israeli Army Shuts Down Al Jazeera Bureau Citing Security Threats
- The Israeli army closed Al Jazeera's Ramallah bureau on September 22, 2023, citing security threats.
- Walid Al-Omari, Al Jazeera's director, witnessed the closure order being enforced by soldiers.
- The organization continues to face restrictions, and Al-Omari fears that the Israeli authorities aim to control information in the West Bank.
On September 22, 2023, the Israeli army issued a closure order for Al Jazeera's bureau in Ramallah for 45 days, claiming the channel was endangering security in the region. This action followed a previous closure of the East Jerusalem bureau. Walid Al-Omari, Al Jazeera's director in the occupied Palestinian territories, reported on the shutdown incident first-hand as he read the closure notice live while surrounded by soldiers. Despite the bureau's closure and ongoing restrictions, Al Jazeera journalists continue to operate using smartphones to gather news. The office's access was barred post-closure, with physical measures taken to secure the premises, indicating a significant effort to restrict the network's activities in the region. Al-Omari expressed deep concern over the Israeli focus on controlling information flow and stated he did not expect the situation to improve.