Palestinian National Authority has suspended the broadcast of Qatar’s Al Jazeera television channel within its jurisdiction, a decision taken by a ministerial committee comprising representatives from the Ministries of Culture, Interior, and Communications.
The announcement was made on Wednesday (1 January), through the Palestinian state news agency Wafa.
Citing allegations of airing "inciting content," the Palestinian Authority claimed the international television network’s activities had been temporarily halted.
However, the decision will not apply to the besieged Gaza Strip, as the Palestinian Authority does not govern that territory despite it being a part of Palestine. Reuters reported on Thursday, 2 January, that this restriction specifically excludes Gaza.
The political faction Fatah, which controls the Palestinian Authority, stated that Al Jazeera fosters divisions both within Palestine and across the Arab world. Fatah also encouraged Palestinians to refrain from cooperating with the Qatari television network.
The decision has been met with sharp criticism. Mustafa Barghouti, Secretary General of the Palestinian National Initiative, expressed dismay, stating, “Palestinians will be shocked by this decision. I believe it is a significant mistake and should be rescinded as swiftly as possible.”
Barghouti emphasised that if the Palestinian Authority has grievances with Al Jazeera, these issues should be addressed through dialogue. He noted the channel’s role in exposing crimes against Palestinians and its overall commitment to promoting Palestinian issues. “More importantly, this is a matter of press freedom,” he added.
No immediate response was received from Al Jazeera Media Network regarding the suspension.
The order described the decision as temporary, but no timeframe has been specified for lifting the ban.
This development follows a September 2023 incident when Israeli forces issued a military order against Al Jazeera, raiding the network’s office in Ramallah, located in the West Bank, and subsequently halting its operations there.
