BERLIN

Germany criticized Israel on Monday for raiding the Al Jazeera's office in the occupied West Bank and ordering its closure for 45 days.

“The closure of Al Jazeera's office is certainly a wrong signal from the Israeli authorities,” German Foreign Ministry deputy spokesperson Christian Wagner told a press conference in Berlin.

“Especially in times of conflict and crisis, it is extremely important that a diverse and free media can convey a picture of the situation on the ground. Especially in these times, it is even more important that free media and free reporting must be guaranteed, and must be particularly protected,” he said.

Israeli soldiers raided the Al Jazeera's office in the occupied West Bank on Sunday, and ordered the bureau to shut down amid a widening campaign targeting the Doha-based broadcaster. They also seized documents and broadcasting equipment.

Al-Jazeera network has been one of the few international media outlets broadcasting from the region, extensively covering Israel’s military offensives in Gaza and the West Bank.

Since Israel launched its war on Gaza last October, it has killed nearly 41,500 Palestinians and injured more than 95,000 more, mostly women and children.

Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the besieged enclave, where millions of Palestinians are displaced, facing famine and acute shortages of medical aid and other essentials.