Israel orders 45-day closure of Al Jazeera West Bank office

The Israeli military has raided the offices of news broadcaster Al Jazeera in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, confiscated its equipment and ordered it to close for an initial period of 45 days.

Armed Israeli soldiers entered the building early on Sunday during a live broadcast.

Israel's military said a legal opinion and intelligence assessment determined that the offices were being used "to incite terror" and "support terrorist activities", and that the channel's broadcasts endanger Israel's security.

Al Jazeera "vehemently" condemned the closure and "unfounded allegations presented by Israeli authorities to justify these illegal raids", and called the move an "affront" to press freedom.