Al Jazeera Airs Footage of Israeli Military Shutting Down Ramallah Office

Al Jazeera aired live footage of Israeli soldiers entering its offices in Ramallah, located in the occupied West Bank, and ordering the closure of the office for 45 days.

The broadcast showed Al Jazeera’s bureau chief, Walid Omary, and other staff members live on air when the soldiers arrived. A soldier informed Omary of a military order to shut down the office for 45 days and instructed the staff to leave the premises immediately.

Omary, reading the military order on air, stated that the staff were required to collect their personal belongings and cameras before leaving. Al Jazeera’s Ramallah office has been a vital hub for the network, especially after Israel closed its Jerusalem office in May and confiscated some communication equipment. That earlier move sparked condemnation from the United Nations and various human rights groups, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of undermining press freedoms.

Once the Al Jazeera staff had vacated the Ramallah office, live footage showed Omary and others standing outside on the street, with Omary reporting that soldiers had taken control of the office and were seizing materials. Shortly thereafter, as Israeli soldiers approached Omary, the live feed was cut, and Omary could be heard saying that the soldiers had confiscated the camera and broadcast equipment the team had been using.

CNN has reached out to both Al Jazeera and the Israeli military for comment.