Palestinian Authority Suspends Al Jazeera in West Bank and Gaza over Jenin Coverage; Hamas Condemns Move

Jan 1, 2025, 08:12 PM

On January 1, 2025, the Palestinian Authority (PA) announced the temporary suspension of Al Jazeera's broadcasts and operations within its territories, including the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that the decision was due to Al Jazeera's alleged violation of Palestinian laws, including broadcasting inciting material, misinformation, and interfering in domestic affairs. The PA accused the network of airing reports that incite violence and stir internal strife, particularly regarding its critical coverage of the recent crackdown on militant activity in the Jenin Refugee Camp. The decision was met with widespread condemnation from various Palestinian factions and media organizations. Hamas denounced the move as a "flagrant breach of media freedom," calling it illegal and an attempt to suppress critical coverage. The Palestinian Journalists’ Protection Center (PJPC) stated that the decision is a clear violation of press freedom and an attempt to suppress media coverage of events. Mustafa Barghouthi, General Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative, criticized the PA's decision, emphasizing that Al Jazeera is the most-watched network covering Palestinian resistance and exposing Israeli violations. Al Jazeera responded by condemning the PA's decision, viewing it as an attempt to hide facts and deter its journalists from covering escalating events in the occupied territories, especially in Jenin and Gaza. The network expressed concern over the safety of its staff and urged the PA to reverse the decision immediately.