Israel Closes Al Jazeera Office in Ramallah with 'Military Order'

According to CNN, Al Jazeera broadcast live images of Israeli soldiers entering the network's office in Ramallah, located in the West Bank, and issuing an order to close the office for 45 days. In the footage, Walid Omari, the head of Al Jazeera's office, and other team members were live on air when the soldiers entered the office. One of the Israeli soldiers announced a 'military order' to Omari regarding the closure of the office for 45 days and asked the staff to leave immediately. Omari, reading the military order on live television, told the staff to gather their personal belongings and cameras and leave the office. The Al Jazeera office in Ramallah has been active for several decades and is of greater significance to the network after the closure of its office in Jerusalem and the seizure of communication equipment in May. After the Al Jazeera staff left the Ramallah office, live images showed Walid Omari and other team members in the street announcing that Israeli soldiers had taken over the office and were confiscating equipment. Moments later, when Israeli soldiers approached Omari, the live broadcast was cut off, and Omari's voice was heard stating that the soldiers had seized cameras and broadcasting equipment. These actions by Israel have faced condemnation from the United Nations and human rights groups, which described Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's actions as an attempt to limit media freedom. Earlier, in Ordibehesht 1403, Netanyahu's cabinet decided to close Al Jazeera's offices in Israel until the war in Gaza continues. After the cabinet members unanimously voted against the operation of Al Jazeera, Netanyahu wrote on social media: 'The disruptive Al Jazeera network is being closed in Israel.' According to this report, Netanyahu's cabinet decision was based on the claim that this Qatari television network threatens Israel's national security. The Qatari government funds Al Jazeera, which has strongly criticized Israel's military operations in Gaza. The Israeli parliament has passed a law allowing for the temporary closure of foreign television networks in Israel that are considered a threat to national security.