Prominent Middle East broadcaster Al Jazeera has hit back at the Palestinian Authority's (PA) decision to suspend its operations in the West Bank, accusing it of mimicking Israeli media censorship policies.
The Qatari network stands accused of biased reporting and "broadcasting inciteful content, spreading misinformation, and interfering in internal Palestinian affairs", according to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA.
The suspension of operations includes work by all of Al Jazeera's "journalists, staff and associated channels affiliated" with the network.
It comes amid increased violence in the West Bank, including a crackdown on militant groups in the city of Jenin by Palestinian Authority security forces.
The unrest has been covered extensively by Al Jazeera, and broadcast around the world.
In a statement, the network criticised the PA's suspension and likened it to the actions of Israel, which has banned the network operating and forced the closure of its offices in Jerusalem and the West Bank city of Ramallah.
"This decision comes following the ongoing campaign of incitement and intimidation by parties associated with the Palestinian Authority against Al Jazeera's journalists and correspondents," Al Jazeera said.
"The decision to freeze Al Jazeera's work and prevent its journalists from conducting their duties is an attempt to hide the truth about events in the occupied territories, especially what is happening in Jenin and its camps."
Israeli politicians, including the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have described Al Jazeera of being a mouthpiece for Hamas.
Palestinian Authority says Al Jazeera needs to follow 'basic media ethics'
The PA is controlled by Fatah, a political rival of Hamas.
A spokesman for the PA prime minister's office said the suspension followed a number of complaints about the network to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate — but did not detail the specific nature of those complaints.
"These measures shall be applied until Al Jazeera chooses to act in accordance with basic media ethics, including its duty to prevent deliberate disinformation, ban the glorification of violence, and end the incitement to armed mutiny," the spokesman said.
"The State of Palestine's commitment to free press is unconditional and unequivocal.
"However, incitement, sedition, and disinformation are not press, and the glorification of crime and lawlessness is not journalism."
Al Jazeera insisted the suspension, however shocking it was, would not stop its reporting.
"Al Jazeera stresses that this decision will not deter it from its commitment to continue its professional coverage of events and developments in the West Bank."
Palestinian security forces under fire for death of journalist
Last weekend, PA security forces were blamed for killing a young Palestinian journalist in Jenin.
The family of Shatha al-Sabbagh, 21, said she died of gunshot wounds to the head and accused snipers of shooting her.
The security services spokesman denied that, arguing "outlaws" operating in the city's refugee camp were responsible for Ms al-Sabbagh's death.
Al Jazeera broadcast an interview with her mother alongside the spokesman — who left the segment after complaining he had not been told he would be appearing on air with her grief stricken family.
