Al Jazeera office closure part of Israeli ‘policy to stop free reporting’: International Federation of Journalists

Tim Dawson, deputy general secretary of the International Federation of Journalists, called the Israeli military's closure of Al Jazeera’s bureau in Ramallah “utterly shocking” and said it is part of a long-standing effort to suppress free reporting.

Speaking to Al Jazeera from London, Dawson noted: “Journalists have been blocked from entering Gaza, targeted in the region, and critical media within Israel has faced suppression. The attempt to silence Al Jazeera is atrocious on many levels.”

He condemned the use of combat troops to shut down the office, adding, “It’s appalling that soldiers were sent to intimidate journalists armed only with microphones and notebooks. Carrying it out at 3 a.m. was likely intended to heighten fear.”