Israel to Ban Al Jazeera Broadcasts
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Al Jazeera would be closed down in Israel.
Netanyahu accused the Qatari-owned news network of promoting “incitement” and mentioned that the cabinet’s decision was unanimous.
Al Jazeera criticized the decision as “criminal.”
Foreign journalists are barred from entering Gaza, leaving Al Jazeera staff as some of the few reporters present.
For a long time, Israeli authorities have accused Al Jazeera of being biased against Israel.
These criticisms have escalated since the Hamas attacks on October 7th, where 1,200 people were killed and over 250 were taken hostage. Of these hostages, 128 remain unaccounted for, and at least 34 are believed dead.
The Hamas-run health ministry reports that since October 7th, at least 34,683 Palestinians have been killed and 78,018 injured in Gaza.
Israeli authorities claim Al Jazeera has strong ties with Hamas, which the network firmly denies.
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Last month, the Israeli parliament passed a law allowing the government to temporarily shut down foreign broadcasters deemed a national security threat during the war against Hamas.
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi said the ban “will go into effect immediately.”
The ban requires recertification every 45 days.
The temporary order could lead to the closure of offices, removal of the website, and confiscation of equipment.
Qatar, Al Jazeera’s home country, is facilitating talks between Israel and Hamas regarding the nearly seven-month-long conflict. Past Qatar-mediated negotiations resulted in a brief ceasefire and the release of 105 Israeli hostages.
The news network accused Israel of intentionally targeting its employees.
Journalists, including Hamza Al-Dahdouh, son of Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau chief Wael Al-Dahdouh, have died in Israeli strikes. Israel disputes claims of targeting journalists.
Al Jazeera stated that Israel’s suppression of the free press and targeting of journalists hasn’t stopped them from fulfilling their responsibilities.
Israel to Ban Al Jazeera Broadcasts
