Statement from Columbia Journalism School Faculty on the Raid and Closure of the Al Jazeera Office in Ramallah

The Undersigned Faculty of Columbia Journalism School strongly condemns Israel’s closing of the Al Jazeera office in Ramallah. 

On Sunday, September 22, Israeli troops raided the bureau of the Doha-based news organization, confiscated documents and equipment and forced journalists to leave the premises. 

Israel’s military ordered the office to remain closed for 45 days, alleging that the news organization was “being used to incite terror, to support terrorist activities and that the channel’s broadcasts endanger... security and public order” — claims which  Al Jazeera rejects.   

 “The raid on the office and seizure of our equipment is not only an attack on Al Jazeera, but an affront to press freedom and the very principles of journalism,” Al Jazeera said in a statement. “These oppressive measures are clearly intended to prevent the world from witnessing the reality of the situation in the occupied territories and the ongoing war on Gaza and the devastating impact on innocent civilians.”

We condemn this attack on press freedom, which follows Israel’s earlier forced closure of an Al Jazeera office in Jerusalem in May. Governments everywhere must respect journalists’ right to report freely and without fear. 

When governments attack journalists or shut down their offices, it is the global public that suffers the most. Press coverage of the conflict is already strained by an absence of journalists on the ground, where at least 116 media workers have been killed, 35 injured, 54 arrested and countless more displaced, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. 

We reiterate our call for all parties to protect journalists and ensure their ability to safely report. We urge Israel to uphold democratic principles by allowing Al Jazeera journalists to reopen their office and continue their crucial coverage of one of the world’s deadliest wars.

Signed,

Jelani Cobb, Dean and Henry R. Luce Professor of Journalism

June Cross, Fred W. Friendly Professor of Media and Society and Director, Documentary Journalism Program

Jacob Kushner, Newsday/David Laventhol Visiting Assistant Professor of Journalism

Alexander Stille, Sao Paolo Professor of International Journalism

Ty Lawson, Joan Konner Visiting Professor of Journalism

Nina Berman, Professor of Journalism

Robe Imbriano, Ira A. Lipman Associate Professor of Journalism and Director, Ira. A. Lipman Center for Journalism and Civil and Human Rights

Mark Hansen, David and Helen Gurley Brown Professor of Journalism and Innovation and Director, David and Helen Gurley Brown Institute of Media Innovation

Juan Manuel Benítez, Philip S. Balboni Professor of Professional Practice of Local Journalism

Daniel Alarcón, Associate Professor of Journalism

Nina Alvarez, CBS Assistant Professor of International Journalism

Aida Alami, James Madison Visiting Professor on First Amendment Issues

Winnie O'Kelley, Bloomberg Professor of Professional Practice

Emily Bell, Leonard Tow Professor of Professional Practice and Director, Tow Center for Digital Journalism

Jonathan Weiner, Maxwell M. Geffen Professor of Medical and Scientific Journalism and Co-Director, M.A. Science

Elena Cabral, Assistant Dean of Student, Academic, and International Programs, Adjunct Faculty 

Sheila Coronel, Toni Stabile Professor of Professional Practice in Investigative Journalism and Director, Toni Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism

Bruce Shapiro, Senior Executive Director, Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma

Keith Gessen, George T. Delacorte Assistant Professor of Magazine Journalism

Marguerite Holloway, Professor of Professional Practice and Director of Science and Environmental Journalism

Melanie Greer Huff, Senior Associate Dean of Student Life

The Simon and June Li Center for Global Journalism

This statement is also supported by additional faculty members who are employed at news organizations that prohibit the signing of letters.