Israeli Forces Raid Al Jazeera Office in Ramallah: WJWC Condemns Continued Violations Against the Press

Israeli occupation forces raided the building housing Al Jazeera's office in central Ramallah at dawn today, issuing a military order to extend the closure of the bureau for an additional 60 days.

The operation is part of a broader campaign targeting media institutions and restricting press coverage in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Women Journalists Without Chains (WJWC) strongly condemns the raid, which it views as another step in a sustained policy of silencing independent reporting and limiting the public’s right to know. The organization warned that these actions are designed to prevent coverage of ongoing violations in both Gaza and the West Bank and to obstruct efforts to document what is happening on the ground.

This is not the first time Al Jazeera’s operations have been shut down. In September 2024, Israeli authorities closed the same office and confiscated all equipment and archives. That move was carried out under the so-called “Al Jazeera Law,” passed by the Israeli Knesset to give the government broad authority to block or restrict foreign media outlets. Human rights and press freedom organizations have criticized the law as an instrument of censorship.

The latest closure comes amid a deepening humanitarian crisis and continued military operations. Since October 7, 2023, the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces has reached at least 60,933, including 1,516 people who were killed while attempting to access humanitarian aid, according to official statistics. In recent days, five more deaths have been reported due to starvation, bringing the total number of starvation-related deaths to 180.

Journalists are increasingly being caught in the crosshairs. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate has recorded 739 violations against journalists in the first half of 2025, including the killing of 41 media professionals, with others wounded or targeted in shelters, hospitals, and marked press zones. These figures suggest a dangerous trend in which journalists are not only at risk but are being directly targeted.

Women Journalists Without Chains emphasized that these attacks on media outlets and journalists are part of a wider effort to restrict the free flow of information and prevent independent reporting on events in Palestine. Such actions are in clear violation of international humanitarian law, including provisions of the Geneva Conventions that protect journalists in conflict zones.

WJWC calls on the international community to take clear and immediate action. The organization urges:

·         The immediate reopening of Al Jazeera’s office in Ramallah and the reversal of all bans imposed on foreign media organizations;

·         An end to the media blockade on Gaza, and guaranteed protection and access for journalists working in conflict areas;

·         The launch of an independent international investigation into attacks on journalists and media institutions, and mechanisms to ensure accountability for violations.

These actions represent a serious threat to the future of journalism in Palestine. Targeting the press does not just silence voices—it erodes the ability of the world to understand, respond to, and prevent ongoing human rights violations. WJWC calls on governments, international organizations, and civil society to stand against the repression of journalism and defend the fundamental right to report freely and safely.