UPDATE 22:30 Israeli police raided the headquarters of the Qatari post, located in the Ambassador Hotel in Jerusalem.
In Sunday’s raid, Israeli authorities seized equipment. Al Jazeera reacted by saying that the accusations that he was a threat to Israel’s security were a “dangerous and ridiculous lie”.
The company said it reserves the right to “take all legal action”. Images posted on social media show police and inspectors from the Israeli communications ministry entering the hotel room. A BBC team was there, but British journalists were not allowed to film or enter the hotel.
According to Reuters, the Israel Broadcasting Service broadcasts the message: “According to the government’s decision, the broadcast of Al Jazeera has been stopped in Israel.” However, the blocking of the station remains only partial, as Al Jazeera can still be accessed online on Facebook from Israel.
The decision was criticized by several organizations defending press freedom and human rights.
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) said it had filed a petition with the country’s Supreme Court to overturn the government’s decision.
The organization says the government’s claims that the station is a “propaganda tool” for Hamas are “baseless” and that Sunday’s ban is more motivated by “a political agenda to silence critical voices”.
The Foreign Press Association (FPA) urged the Israeli government to reconsider its decision, arguing that the closure of Al Jazeera in Israel should be “a cause for concern for all supporters of a free press”.
The FPA also added that Israel is “joining a club of authoritarian states” and warned that Netanyahu may shut down other media outlets and sources.
The director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, Carlos Martinez de la Serna, gave a similar statement: “The Israeli cabinet must allow Al Jazeera and all international media sources to operate freely in Israel, especially in times of war.”
And the UN human rights agency called on Israel to reverse the decision in a tweet: “Independent and free media are essential to ensure government transparency and accountability. Even more so than before, when it is so difficult to report from Gaza.”
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Original news:
The prime minister of the Israeli government, Benjamin Netanyahu, announced that he is blocking the transmission of Al Jazeera in Israel, accusing the Qatari-based station of “incitement to hatred”. reports the BBC. According to the Israeli Prime Minister, the decision was taken unanimously in the government.
Al Jazeera reacted by calling the decision “criminal”. The decision comes in the context in which local journalists do not have access to enter the Gaza Strip, and Al Jazeera staff were the only ones broadcasting from the spot.
For years, Israel has accused Al Jazeera of having an “anti-Israeli” stance. Criticism of the Israeli government continued to intensify after the terrorist attack by Hamas in southern Israel and especially after the outbreak of hostilities.
Israeli authorities claim that Al Jazeera has close ties to Hamas, alleged ties that the media company strongly denies.
Last month, Israel’s parliament passed a law giving the government the power to temporarily shut down foreign channels that could pose a threat to national security during the war with Hamas.
Israeli Communications Ministry Shlomo Karhi said the ban “takes effect immediately”. Under the temporary shutdown order, Al Jazeera could face including closing its offices, blocking its website in Israel and confiscating its equipment.
“Israel’s suppression of the free press so it can cover up its crimes and arrest journalists will not stop us from doing our duty,” the station’s representatives said after the announcement in Tel Aviv.
Editor: Adrian Dumitru
Tags: Israel shut Jazeera Israeli police raided stations Jerusalem headquarters
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