Security Forces Shut Down Palestinian Media Outlets For Incitement to Terrorism

Jerusalem, 18 October, 2017 (TPS) -- Israeli security forces raided several Palestinian media outlets suspected of incitement and of encouraging acts of terror, overnight Tuesday,

In a joint operation the IDF, Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and Civil Administration shut down TV and radio stations in Ramallah, Bethlehem, Hebron and Nablus, and confiscated equipment from several other media companies which provide services to outlets such as Al-Aqsa and Hamas affiliated Al-Quds. The operations that were shut down were declared illegal by the head of the Central Command.

An IDF spokesman named Pal-Media, Ramastat and Trans-Media as some of the stations shut down, the latter of the three having been previously shut down for affiliation with the Islamic Jihad movement. Palestinian media said the stations were shut down for a period of six months.

During last night’s raid, Amer Al-Jaabari, the director of Trans-Media, was arrested along with his brother Ibrahim.

“This operation is part of a wider effort by security forces to prevent all elements of terrorism, among them incitement,” an IDF spokesman said. “Security forces will continue to operate against incitement to terrorism as it constitutes a direct factor in the execution of terrorist attacks and in inspiration and support for terrorism.”

The operation lead to clashes between Palestinians and Israeli security forces, during which 18 Palestinians were arrested.