Israel raids Al Jazeera's West Bank bureau, serves 45 days closure notice

Israeli forces on Sunday raided Al Jazeera 's office in Ramallah in the West Bank , asking the Qatari broadcaster to close the bureau for 45 days.

"There is a court ruling for closing down Al Jazeera for 45 days," an Israeli soldier told Al Jazeera's West Bank bureau chief Walid al-Omari, the network reported, citing the conversation which was broadcast live.

"I ask you to take all the cameras and leave the office at this moment," the soldier said, according to news agency AFP . Al Jazeera said forces did not give any reason for the closure order.

In a statement, the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate condemned the Israeli move, saying "this arbitrary military decision is considered a new violation against journalistic and media works, which has been exposing the occupation’s crimes against the Palestinian people."

Last week Israel's government announced it was revoking the press credentials of Al Jazeera journalists in the country, four months after banning the channel from operating inside Israel.

Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has had a long-running feud with Al Jazeera that has worsened since the Gaza war began in October.

The government on May 5 approved a decision to ban Al Jazeera from broadcasting in Israel and to close its offices for 45 days. But on June 9 the supreme court, responding to a petition from the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, referred the case to the Tel Aviv district court.

The government then asked the court to confirm the ban for 45 days. The judge authorised a 35-day ban, citing legal flaws. However, the ban continues to be extended till date.

Qatar established Al Jazeera in 1996 and views it as a way to bolster its global profile.