Palestinian Authority suspends operations of Al-Jazeera’s West Bank office

The Palestinian Authority (PA) has suspended all operations of Qatari state-run media outlet Al-Jazeera in the occupied West Bank, PA-run WAFA news reported Wednesday.

This move reportedly is attributed to Al-Jazeera’s “violation of the laws and regulations in Palestine” and its “insistence on broadcasting inciting materials and reports characterized by misinformation, incitement, and interference in Palestinian internal affairs.”

The decision reportedly comes after a decree by a specialized ministerial committee, which includes officials from the Culture, Interior, and Communications Ministries.

The committee moved to shut down all broadcasting and activities of Al-Jazeera’s West Bank office.

Meanwhile, WAFA reported that the move halts the work of all Al-Jazeera journalists, employees, crews, and affiliated channels until further notice.

Last week, Al-Jazeera condemned what it described as an “incitement campaign” targeting its journalists, particularly correspondent Mohammed Al-Atrash.

The network, in a statement, stressed that its coverage of events in Jenin was balanced, offering a platform for both resistance voices and Palestinian security forces.

The Palestinian Authority’s decision came after Israel closed Al-Jazeera’s Ramallah office last September. Israeli forces had stormed the office, confiscating equipment and documents while prohibiting employees from accessing their vehicles.

In May, Israel’s government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, approved a proposal to close all Al-Jazeera offices across the country, invoking the so-called “Al-Jazeera Law.” The closure was enacted immediately.