Israeli forces have conducted a raid on the offices of a prominent news broadcaster in Ramallah, located in the occupied West Bank, resulting in an initial closure order for 45 days. The raid occurred early Sunday morning during a live broadcast, capturing viewers’ attention as armed and masked soldiers entered the building.
During the live broadcast, the troops presented the closure order to the broadcaster’s West Bank bureau chief, who publicly read it on air. This action follows earlier raids on the broadcaster’s offices in Nazareth and East Jerusalem in May, where Israeli authorities labeled the media outlet as a threat to national security.
The West Bank bureau chief criticized the raid, stating that targeting journalists aims to obscure the truth and silence voices that inform the public. Reports indicate that soldiers confiscated equipment from outside the office and forcibly removed the bureau chief from the premises. Eyewitness accounts noted that soldiers also tore down a poster commemorating a fallen journalist killed during a prior raid by Israeli forces.
The relationship between the broadcaster and the Israeli government has been contentious, especially heightened by the recent conflict in Gaza. With foreign journalists restricted from entering the region, the broadcaster’s local staff have been among the few reporters actively covering the ongoing war.
Israeli authorities have accused the broadcaster of acting as a mouthpiece for terrorism, a claim that the network strongly denies. In April, a new law was enacted allowing the government to shut down foreign broadcasters deemed a threat to national security during wartime, permitting 45-day closure periods that can be renewed.
As of now, there has been no official comment from Israeli authorities regarding the recent raid on Sunday.
