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Palestinian Authority Suspends Al Jazeera in West Bank for 'Inciting Sedition'; International Outcry Ensues

Jan 2, 2025, 01:04 PM

On Wednesday, the Palestinian Authority (PA) suspended the operations of Qatar-based Al Jazeera in the West Bank, accusing the news network of broadcasting "inciting material" and "inciting sedition", according to the official news agency WAFA. The decision, made by a committee including the Ministries of Culture, Interior, and Communications, comes amid Al Jazeera's critical coverage of the PA's security forces' operation in the Jenin refugee camp. The PA stated that Al Jazeera must halt activities until its policies comply with Palestinian laws. Al Jazeera condemned the move, describing it as an attempt to suppress journalism and likening it to actions taken by the Israeli occupation against its staff. The network expressed "shock" at the decision and called for its reversal. International organizations and officials have called on the PA to reverse the suspension. The United Nations urged the PA to allow Al Jazeera and all media outlets to operate freely without hindrance. The Norwegian Foreign Minister expressed deep concern, calling the ban a direct attack on press freedom and urging its immediate reversal. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) labeled the ban as unacceptable censorship, noting that the decision was not taken by judicial authorities and is therefore illegal. The German Foreign Ministry also voiced concern, emphasizing the importance of a free and diverse press landscape, especially during times of conflict. Palestinian factions, including Hamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, criticized the PA's decision, calling it a violation of freedom of expression and journalistic rights guaranteed by Palestinian law. Palestinian journalist organizations, such as the Palestinian Center for Human Rights and the International Federation of Journalists, denounced the suspension as a breach of press freedoms and demanded its immediate reversal.