Palestinian Authority suspends Al Jazeera for 'incitement' as it cracks down on militant groups

Mehdi CHEBIL

3 January 2025 at 8:33 am·1-min read

Palestinian police disperse demonstrators during a protest against clashes between Palestinian security forces and militants in the northern occupied West Bank city of Jenin on December 21, 2024.

The Palestinian Authority's decision on Wednesday to suspend Al Jazeera broadcasts has put the weeks of violent clashes between Palestinian security forces and local armed groups in the spotlight. Analysts say the move is a way for the Palestinian Authority to score a win ahead of Donald Trump’s presidency and position itself to control a post-war Gaza.

Four months ago, it was masked Israeli troops who raided the Al Jazeera office in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah and ordered a 45-day closure order, claiming the network branch was being used to “incite terror”. At the time, the Palestinian Authority slammed the decision as “a flagrant violation” of press freedom.

On New Year’s Day, it was the Palestinian Authority's turn. Although there was no masked raid, Palestinian security officers entered the same network office in Ramallah and handed over a suspension order of their own.

Accusing the network of “biased media coverage … including incitement” and “misleading reports”, the Palestinian Authority insisted the suspension order was “temporary” and said the measures “shall be applied until Al Jazeera chooses to act in accordance with basic media ethics, including its duty to prevent deliberate disinformation, ban the glorification of violence and end the incitement to armed mutiny”.

The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate has called for an independent investigation into al-Sabbagh's death.

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