Israeli Government Closes Al Jazeera Broadcaster

The decision to cease the operations of Al Jazeera in Israel was made by the cabinet of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and was announced in an official statement. Israel has consistently accused Al Jazeera of bias against the country and of collaborating with Hamas militants, claims that the broadcaster has refuted.

Prime Minister Netanyahu himself took to social media to declare the unanimous decision to shut down Al Jazeera in Israel, citing it as an “incitement channel.” Following this announcement, Israel’s Communications Minister, Shlomo Karhi, confirmed that he had issued the necessary orders to immediately restrict the broadcaster’s activities.

Minister Karhi also mentioned that equipment used by Al Jazeera to broadcast its content, such as editing tools, cameras, laptops, and mobile phones, would be confiscated as part of the shutdown process. This move marks a significant development in the ongoing tensions between Israel and Al Jazeera.

The decision made by the Israeli government aligns with a law that was approved by the Knesset in April, permitting the temporary closure of foreign broadcasters in Israel that are considered a threat to national security during the Gaza conflict. The law mandates that the ban must be reviewed and renewed every 45 days.

Walid Omary, the head of Al Jazeera in Israel and the Palestinian territories, criticized Netanyahu’s cabinet for what he deemed a “dangerous” move driven by political motives. Omary mentioned that the broadcaster’s legal team is preparing a response to challenge the ban.

Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Gaza, expressed that Palestinians view the news channel’s shutdown as an attempt to hinder impartial reporting on the situation in the enclave. Mahmoud highlighted that Al Jazeera has documented violations of international human rights law, which has not been well-received by the Israeli government.

The death toll resulting from Israel’s airstrikes and ground offensive in Gaza has climbed to 34,654 individuals, with 77,908 others sustaining injuries, as reported by the Palestinian enclave’s health ministry. The military campaign was initiated following a Hamas cross-border attack on Israel on October 7, resulting in the deaths of at least 1,200 people and 250 individuals being taken hostage.