Israel orders the closure of Al Jazeera
- last month
Israeli authorities raided the Al Jazeera media office located in a hotel room in Jerusalem on Sunday, May 5, 2024, local time. The raid was carried out after the Israeli government issued an order to close the operations of the Qatar-owned television station in its territory.
As reported by Reuters and Al Arabiya on May 6, 2024, a video circulating online shows a number of plainclothes police personnel dismantling camera equipment in a hotel room, according to Al Jazeera sources in the East Jerusalem area.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the closure of the Al Jazeera network while the war in the Gaza Strip continues, saying the media network threatens Israel's national security.
In its response, Al Jazeera considered Israel's actions a "criminal act." Al Jazeera also stressed that Tel Aviv's accusations that its media network threatens Israel's security are "a dangerous lie" that puts its journalists in danger.
Al Jazeera also emphasized that it has the right to "pursue every legal action".
"Al Jazeera Media Network strongly condemns criminal acts that violate human rights and the basic right to access information. Al Jazeera affirms its right to continue to convey news and information to a global audience," stressed Al Jazeera in its statement.
Al Jazeera has been strongly criticizing Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip, which is also where the Qatari media reports news.
Netanyahu announced the order to close Al Jazeera's operations after a vote was held by his government cabinet.
"The inflammatory Al Jazeera channel will be closed in Israel," Netanyahu said in a social media post following the vote in favor of shutting down the leading media network.
This step was taken by Israel after, last month, the Jewish state's parliament ratified a law that allows the temporary closure of foreign broadcasters on its territory that are deemed to pose a threat to national security.
The law allows Netanyahu and his security cabinet to close foreign broadcasters' offices in Israel for 45 days, a period that can be extended, so it could remain in effect until the end of July or until the end of Tel Aviv's military operation in the Gaza Strip.
A government statement released to the public said that Israel's Communications Minister had signed an order to "act immediately." But at least one Israeli lawmaker who supports the shutdown said Al Jazeera could still try to block the order in court.
The measures, according to an Israeli government statement, include closing Al Jazeera's offices in Israel, confiscating broadcasting equipment, cutting channels from cable and satellite companies, and blocking its website.
There was no further mention regarding Al Jazeera's operations in the Gaza Strip. Israeli satellite and cable television providers immediately stopped broadcasting Al Jazeera following the government's decision.
There has been no official statement from the Qatari government re
As reported by Reuters and Al Arabiya on May 6, 2024, a video circulating online shows a number of plainclothes police personnel dismantling camera equipment in a hotel room, according to Al Jazeera sources in the East Jerusalem area.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the closure of the Al Jazeera network while the war in the Gaza Strip continues, saying the media network threatens Israel's national security.
In its response, Al Jazeera considered Israel's actions a "criminal act." Al Jazeera also stressed that Tel Aviv's accusations that its media network threatens Israel's security are "a dangerous lie" that puts its journalists in danger.
Al Jazeera also emphasized that it has the right to "pursue every legal action".
"Al Jazeera Media Network strongly condemns criminal acts that violate human rights and the basic right to access information. Al Jazeera affirms its right to continue to convey news and information to a global audience," stressed Al Jazeera in its statement.
Al Jazeera has been strongly criticizing Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip, which is also where the Qatari media reports news.
Netanyahu announced the order to close Al Jazeera's operations after a vote was held by his government cabinet.
"The inflammatory Al Jazeera channel will be closed in Israel," Netanyahu said in a social media post following the vote in favor of shutting down the leading media network.
This step was taken by Israel after, last month, the Jewish state's parliament ratified a law that allows the temporary closure of foreign broadcasters on its territory that are deemed to pose a threat to national security.
The law allows Netanyahu and his security cabinet to close foreign broadcasters' offices in Israel for 45 days, a period that can be extended, so it could remain in effect until the end of July or until the end of Tel Aviv's military operation in the Gaza Strip.
A government statement released to the public said that Israel's Communications Minister had signed an order to "act immediately." But at least one Israeli lawmaker who supports the shutdown said Al Jazeera could still try to block the order in court.
The measures, according to an Israeli government statement, include closing Al Jazeera's offices in Israel, confiscating broadcasting equipment, cutting channels from cable and satellite companies, and blocking its website.
There was no further mention regarding Al Jazeera's operations in the Gaza Strip. Israeli satellite and cable television providers immediately stopped broadcasting Al Jazeera following the government's decision.
There has been no official statement from the Qatari government re