Abstract
The closure of Al Jazeera’s West Bank office is a symbol of Israel’s repression of Palestinian journalists, writes
ABOVE: Palestinian artists in Gaza paint a mural for Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed in 2022 while covering the storming of Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank
IN SEPTEMBER, ISRAELI soldiers raided the Al Jazeera office in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, and ordered the network’s bureau to close for 45 days.
It was not the first media shutdown. In May, the army stormed the Al Jazeera bureau in East Jerusalem and closed it after confiscating its equipment, claiming that the network was a threat to national security.
Israel has also said that the network "incites terror" and "supports terrorist activities".
Israel has long exercised suppression of the freedom of the media in the occupied Palestinian territories. Many Palestinian journalists have been killed, attacked, threatened and arrested.
This has made their jobs in the occupied territories almost impossible. It’s a constant life-threatening situation and Israel has deliberately targeted Al Jazeera journalists and their families on many occasions.
The pain and worry of being a danger to your loved ones is indescribable
The killing of Palestinian-US journalist Shireen Abu Akleh in 2022; the targeting of many other colleagues’ families in Gaza, including my own; the deliberate killing of Al Jazeera journalists in direct attacks - these are all crimes against press freedom and attempts to silence journalists.
Your press gear labels you as a direct target to the Israeli army, and the pain and worry of being a danger to your loved ones is indescribable.
Since October 2023, Israel’s suppression of the press has stretched to foreign journalists, too, as it has prevented all international journalists from exercising their right to cover one of the most brutal wars in recent history.
Our job as journalists is to inform the public based on facts and evidence, not political agendas
I believe this is an attempt to avoid exposure of crimes committed against the Palestinians and the crisis they face.
Al Jazeera has long been a prominent voice covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and its presence in the region has been crucial for a global audience.
The network’s coverage depends on a large number of journalists bringing together all aspects of the story at once.
Over the years, it has built a reputation for its commitment to telling the story from both sides of the divide, and many people around the world turn to Al Jazeera for the latest developments and breaking news stories.
Its coverage isn’t just a reflection of events on the ground - it is an avenue for audiences, globally, to understand the complexities of these events. And the closure of its offices sends a chilling message.
For years, Al Jazeera has been criticised by Israeli officials for what they allege is biased reporting. But such accusations overlook the network’s fundamental journalistic principle: to show the full spectrum of the story.
Al Jazeera’s coverage is notably impartial. I say this because it brings to light the narratives of both Israelis and Palestinians, ensuring that no side goes unheard. Its reporters don’t shy away from broadcasting the pain and suffering endured by civilians on either side of the conflict. Whether it’s an Israeli family mourning after a rocket attack, Palestinians in Gaza grappling with the aftermath of airstrikes, or settler violence and illegal confiscation of Palestinian land in the West Bank, Al Jazeera’s cameras capture the human realities.
RIGHT: The Al Jazeera English newsroom in Doha, Qatar
CREDIT: (artist) Majority World CIC / Alamy / Yousef Masoud; (newsroom) Ionel Sorin Furcoi / Alamy
All this is clear in its coverage since the beginning of the current war.
On 7 October 2023, my reporting as a Gaza correspondent was on the Palestinian attacks on Israeli towns. Other stories I worked on for my colleagues in Israel highlighted the aftermath of these attacks and the impact on Israeli families.
This objectivity is rare and invaluable in a conflict where misinformation, propaganda and onesided narratives often dominate. Where many news outlets have taken up clear ideological stances, Al Jazeera has remained steadfast in its commitment to neutrality. It’s not just about giving airtime to both sides - it’s about letting the facts speak for themselves.
And this is the true objective of journalism in the first place. Our job as journalists is to inform the public based on facts and evidence, not political agendas.
To suggest that this impartiality is a threat worthy of office closures is to misconstrue the role of journalism in a so-called democratic society. The very essence of a free press is to inform the public, to provide transparency and to hold those in power accountable. Silencing a media outlet such as Al Jazeera is a direct assault on these values.
The closure of its offices also highlights a double standard. Israeli authorities have allowed other international news agencies to continue their operations, many of which cover the conflict in ways that are far less nuanced or balanced. Yet a network that works diligently to present both Israeli and Palestinian perspectives is being targeted and its journalists are constantly under attack.
What does this say about the future of press freedom in Israel and the occupied territories? ✘
Footnotes