Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government moved to shut down Al Jazeera's activities in Israel amid the Gaza war, citing security concerns. The news organization quickly denied these accusations as "dangerous and ridiculous lies" that put its journalists at risk, stating that it intended to sue.
Netanyahu announced on social media that the cabinet unanimously approved the shutdown of the "incitement channel" and issued orders to implement it immediately, according to Reuters.
In response, Al Jazeera has blasted Israeli restrictions as part of a larger push to suppress them.The Qatari-funded news network repeatedly criticizes Israel's military activities in Gaza.
Broadcast Equipment Seized
Shlomo Karhi, Israel's Communications Minister, ordered Al Jazeera's immediate ban, escalating the issue. The orders seize Al Jazeera's content delivery equipment, including editing and routing equipment, cameras, microphones, servers, laptops, wireless transmission equipment, and certain mobile phones, per the news network.
Israel's tense relationship with Al Jazeera, which has faced accusations of bias and Hamas complicity, has reached a new low with this decision. Qatar-funded Al Jazeera often denies these claims.
Qatar is crucial to Gaza conflict mediation; therefore, this action might escalate Israel-Qatar relations. Al Jazeera, one of the few international media stations in Gaza, has extensively covered the conflict, releasing images of bombings and pressure on local medical facilities and accusing Israel of crimes.
After a legislation gave senior Israeli ministers the power to shut down international news networks deemed a security danger, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised speedy action against Al Jazeera. Netanyahu accused Al Jazeera of inciting and specifically targeting Israeli soldiers.
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A picture shows a view of the Al Jazeera television network offices in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank on May 5, 2024. Israel's Prime Minister said on May 5 that his government has decided to shut down the Qatar-based news channel Al Jazeera, with which his administration has had a long-running feud.
Israel's Action Blasted
Al Jazeera criticized Netanyahu's allegations as provocation and emphasized the Israeli authorities' global responsibility for worker and property safety. Zein Basravi, Al Jazeera's Ramallah reporter, reaffirmed the network's commitment to reporting the Palestine-Israel conflict despite potential dangers to its operations.
Al Jazeera, which reports in English and Arabic, called Netanyahu's claim a "false accusation in a disgraceful manner," according to NPR.
Waleed Omari, Al Jazeera's Israel and Palestinian Territories Bureau head, called the move political rather than journalistic, per the news network.
In April, the Israeli parliament gave the government the power to shut down international news networks deemed dangerous to national security, with some members calling Al Jazeera "a mouthpiece of Hamas." This law allows Netanyahu and his security cabinet to close Al Jazeera's headquarters for 45 days, with certain flexibility.
In a separate update, the IDF claimed that Israel closed the Kerem Shalom border with Gaza after launching 10 missiles. Reports said the Hamas attack harmed at least 10 individuals.
The crossing serves as one of Gaza's remaining humanitarian supply channels.
According to BBC, the incident occurred as Egyptian negotiators worked to end the conflict and free Israeli hostages. Israel has rejected Hamas's Gaza war-ending requests. Benjamin Netanyahu warned that the pact would retain Hamas in Gaza, threatening Israel.
The negotiations in Cairo might result in a 40-day break in hostilities while Israeli jails release Palestinian prisoners.
An assistant to Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh claimed the latest proposal was taken with "full seriousness." However, he insisted that any solution must incorporate an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war.
