Israeli Forces Raid Al Jazeera Office in Ramallah

Israeli forces conducted a pre-dawn raid on Al Jazeera's office in Ramallah, issuing a 45-day closure order while confiscating equipment and documents. The armed troops entered the building after blowing open gates and ordered employees to vacate within two minutes, during a live broadcast of the incident. This action follows a previous ban on Al Jazeera's operations within Israel, which the government claims is due to the network's alleged connections to Hamas, a claim that Al Jazeera denies. Journalists expressed alarm over the raid, highlighting concerns for press freedom amid ongoing regional conflicts. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate condemned the actions as a violation of journalistic rights, while the Hamas-run government in Gaza labeled the raid a blatant attack on press freedom. The Israeli government, meanwhile, has intensified its crackdown on foreign media it deems harmful to state security.