‘Crime Against Journalism’: Gaza Journalists Criticize PA’s Al Jazeera Ban | Israel-Palestine conflict news

Deir al-Balah, Gaza – Journalists gathered at Gaza’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital expressed anger and confusion over the decision of the Palestinian Authority (PA) to close the office of the Al-Jazeera TV channel in the occupied West Bank.

Independent journalist Ikhlas al-Qarnavi said: “Closing a big channel like Al-Jazeera is a crime against journalism.”

“Al Jazeera news has documented Israel’s crimes against Palestinians, especially during the ongoing genocide,” the 28-year-old journalist told Al Jazeera at a hospital with the most reliable internet connection on the Strip.

On Wednesday, the PA temporarily suspended Al Jazeera in the occupied West Bank for broadcasting “deceptive and seditious material and reporting” in the country.

The decision came after the PA’s dominant Palestinian faction banned Al-Jazeera from broadcasting from the occupied West Bank governorates of Jenin, Tubas and Qalqilya because of its coverage of clashes between Palestinian security forces and Palestinian armed groups. field.

Al Jazeera The PA criticized the banHe said that this step “is consistent with the actions of the (Israeli) occupation against its own workers.”

“Hiding the truth”

Since the start of the war, around 150 journalists for 20 local, international and Arab media have been working from journalistic tents at Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital.

Journalists, including those from Al Jazeera, were forced to work from hospitals after their headquarters and media offices were destroyed.

Al-Aqsa TV reporter Mohammad Isa said from the hospital that the PA’s ban is against international laws that guarantee journalistic freedom and may further endanger journalists.

“The PA’s decision obscures the truth and undermines the Palestinian narrative, especially a leading network like Al Jazeera,” Issa said, adding that the ban reinforces Israel’s narrative that “justifies the targeting of Palestinian journalists.”

“All media workers in Gaza reject this decision, which has silenced the largest Arab and global publication in recent years.”

Independent journalist Wafaa Hajjaj, who works with TRT and Sahat, said the ban made her both “sad” and “disappointed”.

“At a time when Israel is deliberately targeting and killing journalists in Gaza, with our colleagues in Jazeera at the forefront, without any international or institutional protection, the PA’s action in the West Bank is making the situation worse,” he said. His group went to the hospital to meet the wounded.

There is Israel at least 217 journalists were killed and media workers in Gaza since the start of the war against Gaza on October 7, 2023.

Four of them were Al-Jazeera journalists: Samer Abudaqah, Hamza al-Dahduh, Ismail al-Ghoul and Ahmed al-Louh.

Trust Al Jazeera that it will continue.

Although upset, Hajjaj told Al Jazeera that he hoped the PA would lift the ban “as soon as possible”.

“I believe that Al-Jazeera will continue as it has been for years despite all the sanctions.”

Yousef Hassouna, a photojournalist with 22 years of experience, also criticized the closure of Al-Jazeera along with “any other media outlet” targeted by such bans.

“This is a violation against all of us Palestinian journalists,” he said, adding that Al Jazeera is an “important platform” covering Israel’s war on Gaza.

“Now more than ever, we Palestinian journalists need international support and protection, not restrictions and limitations,” Hassouna said.

“Critical Errors”

Ismail al-Tawabtah, spokesman for the government’s media office in Gaza, said that the Palestinian Authority has made two serious mistakes in the past few weeks.

“First: Attack on Jenin and the resulting military conflict between our dear Palestinian people and the resistance forces, and secondly: the closing of the Al-Jazeera office,” he said, adding that this step represented a “serious violation of press freedom.”

Al-Tawabtah said both incidents require the PA to conduct a comprehensive review of policies and positions in line with the highest national interests and respect for the rights of our Palestinian people and their fundamental freedoms.

As for the journalists gathered at Al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Hospital, they were unanimous in calling for an end to the ban.

“As journalists, we are completely against this. I hope that measures will be taken to stop this decision immediately.” said al-Qarnawi, an independent journalist, adding that the ban hurts more than journalists.

“Our Palestinian people are the biggest losers”