GERMANY has condemned Israel for storming Al Jazeera’s offices in the occupied West Bank and ordering them closed for 45 days, further tarnishing Israel’s reputation in the eyes of the world.
“The closure of Al Jazeera’s office is certainly a wrong signal from the Israeli authorities,” German Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Christian Wagner said at a press conference in Berlin, as reported by Anadolu, Tuesday (24/9).
Israeli forces stormed Al Jazeera’s offices in the occupied West Bank on Sunday (22/9), ordering them to close amid a widening campaign targeting the Doha-based broadcaster. They also seized documents and broadcasting equipment.
“Especially in times of conflict and crisis, it is vital that diverse and free media can convey the picture of the situation on the ground. Especially in these times, it is even more important that free media and reporting must be guaranteed, and must be protected in particular,” he said.
Al-Jazeera is one of the few international media outlets broadcasting from the region, extensively covering Israel’s military offensive in Gaza and the West Bank. Since Israel launched its war on Gaza last October, it has killed nearly 41,500 Palestinians and wounded more than 95,000 others, mostly women and children.
Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its war in the besieged enclave, where millions of Palestinians have been displaced, face starvation and lack medical aid and other basic necessities. (I-2)
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