The Palestinian Authority has banned Al Jazeera from operating in its areas, accusing the Qatari-funded broadcaster of inciting sedition and interfering in internal Palestinian affairs. The move comes several months after Al Jazeera was banned by Israel on national security grounds.
Al Jazeera’s local offices must immediately shut down, according to the Palestinian government’s official media arm, WAFA. The ban is expected to last until the channel corrects its legal status.
Palestinian officials did not provide detailed examples of how Al Jazeera broke any local laws. The ban affects areas administered by the Palestinian Authority in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Al Jazeera denounced the decision, calling it an attempt to prevent coverage of escalating events in the occupied territories. The channel has faced increased scrutiny from both Israel and the Palestinian Authority over its reporting on militant groups.
The Palestinian Authority’s move is part of a wider crackdown on dissent, with critics accusing the government of violently assaulting demonstrators and intimidating critics of President Mahmoud Abbas. This decision is the latest blow to Al Jazeera’s operations in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.
Al Jazeera has faced allegations from Israeli officials that it is a “mouthpiece” for Hamas, although the channel rejects these claims as baseless. Tensions between Al Jazeera and the Palestinian Authority have long been strained due to Fatah officials’ accusations of supporting Hamas.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/01/world/middleeast/palestinian-authority-al-jazeera.html