JERUSALEM/DOHA (Reuters) – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet on Sunday shut down Al Jazeera's operations in Israel for the duration of the war in Gaza, on the grounds that the Qatari television network threatened national security.
Al Jazeera called the move a „criminal act“ and rejected accusations that the network threatened Israel's security as „dangerous and ridiculous lies“ that put journalists at risk.
It said it reserves the right to „take any legal action.“
Israeli satellite and cable TV providers have suspended Al Jazeera broadcasts following the government's decision. The Ministry of Communications said a police raid on the station was underway.
The network is funded by the Qatari government, criticizes Israeli military operations in Gaza, and has reported 24 hours a day from there throughout the war.
„The incitement channel Al Jazeera will be shut down in Israel,“ Prime Minister Netanyahu posted on social media following the unanimous vote of his Cabinet.
A government statement said Israel's communications minister had signed an order to „act immediately,“ but at least one lawmaker supporting the closure said Al Jazeera could still try to block the closure in court. Stated.
The statement said the measures include closing Al Jazeera's offices in Israel, confiscating its broadcasting equipment, cutting off channels from cable and satellite companies and blocking its website. He did not mention Al Jazeera's Gaza operation.
There was no official comment from the Qatari government, leaving the matter to Al Jazeera.
Al Jazeera previously called Israel's efforts to curtail its activities an „escalation“ and said in a statement in early April that it was „part of a series of coordinated attacks on Israel to silence Al Jazeera.“
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The newspaper said Israeli authorities had deliberately targeted and killed several journalists, including Samer Abu Dhaka and Hamza al-Dadou, who were killed in Gaza during the conflict. Israel said it was not targeting journalists.
Qatar founded Al Jazeera in 1996 and sees the network as a way to increase its global profile.
„Al Jazeera Media Network strongly condemns and condemns this criminal act, which violates human rights and the fundamental right to access information,“ the network said in a statement. “Al Jazeera affirms our right to continue to provide news and information to audiences around the world.”
The United Nations human rights office also criticized the closure.
“We deplore the Cabinet decision to close Al Jazeera in Israel. Free and independent media is essential to ensure transparency and accountability, especially at a time when reporting from Gaza is severely restricted. Freedom of expression is important,“ X reported. It's an important human right. We call on the government to lift the ban. ”
Last month, Israel's parliament ratified a law allowing the temporary closure of foreign broadcasters in Israel deemed a threat to national security.
The law allows Prime Minister Netanyahu and his security cabinet to close the network's offices in Israel for 45 days, which are renewable, so the law will last until the end of July or until the end of the year in Gaza. It is likely to remain in effect until the end of a large-scale military operation.
Qatar, where several Hamas political leaders are based, is trying to broker a ceasefire and hostage release agreement that could end the war in Gaza.
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