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August 5, 2025 – Palestine –
Israeli forces have forcibly shut down the Al‑Jazeera bureau in the occupied West Bank, a move denounced today by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) as a blatant assault on press freedom. Armed military personnel raided the network’s Ramallah office without prior warning, sealed the entrance, and escorted staff out of the premises. No official explanation was issued at the time.
According to the IFJ, the closure comes amid increasing pressure on media organizations operating in the occupied territories, particularly those perceived to challenge Israel’s policies. Al‑Jazeera has been one of the few international outlets still able to report directly from the West Bank. The shutdown abruptly curbed independent reporting from the ground, severing a vital channel of information as tensions escalate across the region.
The bureau’s closure also coincides with several recent Israeli actions targeting Palestinian journalists, including detentions, raids, and travel bans. Newsrooms have received repeated threats, and individual reporters have been arrested during live broadcasts or while covering protests.
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger condemned the operation, calling it “one more deliberate attempt to silence journalists in Palestine.” He urged Israeli authorities to immediately reverse the office closure, restore access to the journalists, and cease targeting media institutions for their reporting. The IFJ joins Al‑Jazeera journalists in calling on national and international bodies, including the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, to investigate the incident and uphold press freedoms per international standards.
At some of the shuttered bureaus, captured statements from the remaining staff emphasised the widespread uncertainty and fear among journalists. Field correspondents expressed concern about surveillance, restricted movement, and the lack of operational bases necessary to safely continue their work.
Advocacy groups warn that the move is likely intended to diminish Palestinian perspectives in global news coverage. The silencing of Al‑Jazeera, an outlet with one of the largest broadcast footprints across the Arab world, represents a symbolic escalation of the broader suppression of Palestinian journalistic voices. Without immediate remedial action, press freedom advocates warn that the closure will not only deprive Palestinian communities of independently verified information but also embolden regime actors across conflict zones to restrict media access.
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