Israeli forces raided the Al Jazeera office in Ramallah, West Bank, on Sunday morning, delivering a military order to close the bureau for 45 days. This latest move marks another escalation in Israel’s long-standing tensions with the Qatar-based network, which has frequently broadcast coverage critical of Israeli actions in the Palestinian territories, reported Reuters.

The channel aired live footage showing Israeli troops entering the office and handing a closure order to one of the staff members before the broadcast was abruptly cut off. The incident reflects the growing pressure on independent media outlets operating in the region.

Palestinian Journalists Respond

The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate quickly condemned the Israeli raid, calling it “another violation against journalistic and media work,” accusing Israel of attempting to silence coverage that exposes its actions in the occupied territories.

“This arbitrary military decision is a fresh attack on press freedom and an effort to stifle independent reporting,” the syndicate’s statement read.

This is not the first time Al Jazeera has faced restrictions in Israel. In May, Israeli authorities raided a hotel room in Jerusalem that the channel was using as a temporary office after the government decided to shut down Al Jazeera’s local operations, citing national security concerns.

A Troubling Pattern

The closure of Al Jazeera’s office is part of a broader pattern of Israeli efforts to limit the influence of media outlets that report critically on the situation in the region. Despite these pressures, Al Jazeera remains a critical source of information for millions seeking unbiased news about the conflict.

This latest incident highlights ongoing concerns about press freedom in conflict zones, where journalists and media organizations often become targets of government crackdowns.