The Arab Council strongly condemns the closure of Al Jazeera’s office in occupied Palestine by the Israeli occupation forces. This violent action represents a serious violation of press and media freedom and is a blatant breach of international laws that guarantee the right to freedom of expression and access to information.

This repressive act is not only aimed at suppressing the free voice, but also forms part of the policy of concealment and deception that the Israeli authorities pursue to prevent the truth from reaching the outside world. It adds to the list of serious retaliatory violations committed by the Israeli occupation forces against a large number of journalists, including deliberately targeting their lives through sniper fire, shelling, and the targeted assassination of their families in criminal acts.

There is no doubt that the real aim of this decision is to cover up the atrocities that the Netanyahu government has decided to commit after choosing to continue the war and obstructing any chance of peace and halting the bloodshed in the Gaza Strip.

This arbitrary action, issued on the eve of World Press Freedom Day, constitutes a flagrant violation of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It also violates the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, which affirms individuals’ right to freedom of expression and access to information without interference or punishment. This reflects Israel’s disregard for international law and human values in the face of unprecedented international complicity.

While emphasizing the right to media freedom and the protection of journalists, the Arab Council calls on the international community to intervene immediately and pressure Israeli authorities to reopen Al Jazeera’s office without delay, ensure the protection of journalists, and guarantee their freedom to carry out their work.

The Arab Council announces that it will pursue the available legal channels in the Human Rights Council and will soon file a complaint against the Israeli decision and the crimes committed against journalists to the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Media.

The Arab Council expresses its sincere solidarity and support to the Al Jazeera team and all journalists working courageously to convey the truth and document events in Gaza, Palestine, and around the world.

On behalf of the Arab Council
President Moncef Marzouki