Israel considers the Qatari Al-Jazera a security threat and accuses its employees operating in Gaza of involvement in terrorism.
Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu announced yesterday, Monday, that the country intends to block the broadcasts of the Qatari news channel Al-Jazeera in the country.
The ban is part of a new national security law passed by Israel’s parliament, which gives senior ministers the power to ban broadcasts from foreign channels deemed a security threat.
– The terrorist channel Al-Jazeera is no longer shown in Israel, Netanyahu wrote in the message service X.
He also accused Al-Jazeera of complicity in the terrorist attack in Israel by Hamas in October, and of inciting violence against Israeli soldiers.
Al-Jazeera has criticized the ban, saying it is one of many attempts by Israel to silence the news outlet.
It vows to continue covering the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
Two Al-Jazeera correspondents have been killed during the conflict, and missiles have hit the channel’s office in Gaza.
Israel has confirmed the deaths, but said the journalists were terrorists and therefore legitimate targets.
In addition, Israel has claimed that one of the Al-Jazeera journalists working in Gaza who was injured in its attack is the deputy head of one of the Hamas companies.
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists has commented on Israel’s decision. According to the organization, the decision promotes self-censorship and hostility towards the media.
According to the organization, at least 95 journalists have been killed in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
In the United States, White House spokesman Karine Jean-Pierre finds the information about the blocking of Al-Jazeera’s broadcasts troubling.
Founded in 1996, Al-Jazeera is a global news channel with broadcasts in both English and Arabic.
It has more than 70 offices around the world and employs around 3,000 people. Al-Jazeera is estimated to reach a total of 430 million people.
The news channel receives funding from the Qatari administration. Also the senior leadership of Hamas, including its leader Ismail Haniyehoperates from Qatar.