The Palestinian Authority (PA) on Wednesday ordered the immediate cessation of all Al Jazeera operations in the West Bank, accusing the broadcaster of “inciting sedition” and “interfering in internal affairs.”
The move follows Israel's earlier ban of the channel on national security grounds.
The Palestinian government's official media agency, WAFA, announced that Al Jazeera—one of the Arab world’s most influential news outlets—must shut down its local offices and “freeze all the work of its journalists.”
The ban will remain in effect until the broadcaster “corrects its legal status,” though specific violations were not disclosed.
Al Jazeera condemned the decision, calling it “an attempt to prevent coverage of the escalating events in the occupied territories.” An official added, “From this moment on, any broadcast or activity is forbidden.”
The controversy follows Israel’s May 2024 decision to ban Al Jazeera from operating within its borders, citing security concerns.
Months later, Israeli forces raided the network's office in Ramallah, seizing equipment.
Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have frequently accused the broadcaster of acting as a “mouthpiece” for Hamas, the militant group responsible for the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, which reignited the Gaza conflict.
Tensions have heightened recently as the Palestinian Authority conducted a rare military operation in Jenin, a northern West Bank city, to crack down on militants, including those affiliated with Hamas and Islamic Jihad.
Five Palestinian officers have been killed in clashes since the operation began last month.
Al Jazeera has accused the PA of attempting to suppress coverage of critical developments in the occupied territories, particularly in Jenin.
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