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ARTICLE 19 Condemns Attacks on Journalists in Gaza and the West Bank
January 6, 2025
January 6, 2025 – Palestine/Israel –
The Palestinian Authority (PA) escalated its media restrictions by suspending several digital platforms operated by Al Jazeera, including aljazeera.net, aljazeera.net/live, aljazeera360.com, and global.ajplus.net, for a period of four months. The Ramallah Magistrate Court approved the suspension following a request from the Attorney General, citing alleged violations of cybercrime and press laws. Authorities accused the network of “inciting discord,” “threatening civil peace,” and “undermining national unity.”
This move comes shortly after the PA shut down Al Jazeera’s Ramallah office and suspended its television broadcasts in the West Bank. The crackdown is reportedly linked to Al Jazeera’s coverage of the PA’s ongoing security operations in Jenin, which have included controversial raids, sniper deployments, and detentions. The Palestinian Ministry of Telecommunications also warned local media against rebroadcasting Al Jazeera content, threatening legal consequences for non-compliance.
Critics argue that the PA’s actions are an attempt to suppress independent reporting on internal abuses and to shield itself from scrutiny over its alignment with Israeli security objectives in Jenin. Human rights organizations and press freedom groups have condemned the decision as a direct attack on journalistic freedom and public access to information.
Al Jazeera issued a statement rejecting the accusations and defending its reporting as professional and necessary for public awareness during a time of heightened conflict. The network claims the PA’s actions mirror those of other Middle Eastern governments that have historically targeted Al Jazeera during political unrest, including Israel, Egypt, and Jordan.
The ban has raised significant concerns about press freedom in Palestinian territories, especially as conflict escalates and the need for transparent, independent reporting becomes more urgent. Media advocates are calling on the PA to reverse the suspension, review restrictive media laws, and ensure journalists can operate without fear of retaliation.
In a region already fraught with external pressures on press freedom, this internal censorship signals a troubling erosion of accountability and civil liberties under Palestinian governance.
Reference –
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/6/palestinian-authority-shuts-down-several-al-jazeera-websites
