Palestinian Authority suspends Al Jazeera TV operations in the country
Al Jazeera Suspension: According to media reports, the Palestinian Authority suspended Al Jazeera’s broadcasts throughout the Palestinian territories.
A multi-ministerial committee of the Palestinian Authority suspended Al Jazeera’s operations due to what it described as “inflammatory material and reports that deceive and incite conflict.” The committee includes the ministries of culture, interior, and communications.
Last week, the Palestinian Authority criticized the Qatari-owned Al Jazeera for its coverage of clashes between Palestinian security forces and militants in the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank.
Fatah, the political faction that controls the Palestinian Authority, said Al Jazeera was sowing discord in “our vast Arab homeland, especially in Palestine.” Fatah encouraged Palestinians not to cooperate with the station.
Last week, Al Jazeera condemned what Fatah called a “campaign of incitement” against Al Jazeera and its journalists over its coverage of clashes between Palestinian security forces and militants in Jenin.
“Al Jazeera has managed to maintain its professionalism throughout its coverage of what happened in Jenin,” Al Jazeera said in a statement.
The PA’s decision to suspend Al Jazeera’s operations is not expected to be enforced in Hamas-controlled Gaza. The Ramallah-based PA does not exercise executive authority over Gaza.
Al Jazeera did not immediately respond to VOA’s emailed request for comment.
The suspension is one of several recent challenges Al Jazeera has faced in the occupied West Bank and Israel.
In September 2024, Israeli soldiers raided Al Jazeera’s Ramallah office in the occupied West Bank and ordered the bureau to shut down its operations.
In May 2024, the Israeli government shut down Al Jazeera’s operations in Israel over national security concerns.
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