Israel has shut down the operations of the Al Jazeera television network in the country.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the cabinet agreed to the closure of Qatar’s state-owned news broadcaster while the war in Gaza is ongoing.
Israel claims the channel has collaborated with Hamas. “Al Jazeera reporters harmed Israel’s security and incited against soldiers,” Mr Netanyahu said. “It’s time to remove the Hamas mouthpiece from our country.”
Police raided the broadcaster’s office in Jerusalem on Sunday. Israel’s Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi said equipment had been taken in the raid. A video posted by the minister on X shows police officers and inspectors from the ministry entering a hotel room.
Read more: Trio of execs replace Bob Bakish as head of Paramount Global
Al Jazeera has condemned the decision to close its operations in Israel as a “criminal act” and warned that the country’s suppression of the free press “stands in contravention of international and humanitarian law”.
Al Jazeera said: “Israel’s direct targeting and killing of journalists, arrests, intimidation and threats will not deter Al Jazeera from its commitment to cover, whilst more than 140 Palestinian journalists have been killed since the beginning of the war on Gaza.
“The Network vehemently rejects the allegations presented by Israeli authorities suggesting professional media standards have been violated. It reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the values embodied by its Code of Ethics.”
The blockage is effectively only partial, however, as the channel is still accessible through Facebook in Israel.
The shutdown of Al Jazeera in Israel has been criticised by a number of human rights and press groups.
The Foreign Press Association (FPA) urged the Israeli government to reconsider its decision, saying the shutdown of Al Jazeera in the country should be “a cause for concern for all supporters of a free press”.
Read more Highest Impact Topics Explored in New IBC365 Tutorials
No comments yet