Israel closes Al Jazeera satellite TV station's office in the country and cuts off access to its official website



On May 5, 2024 local time, the Israeli government closed the offices of the Middle Eastern satellite television station Al

Jazeera in Israel and also blocked access to Al Jazeera's official website from within Israel.

Israel shuts down local Al Jazeera offices in 'dark day for the media' | Israel | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/05/israel-shuts-down-local-al-jazeera-offices-in-dark-day-for-the-media



The Israeli government has banned foreign journalists from entering the Gaza Strip since October 2023, limiting the number of reporters reporting on the fighting between Israel and the Islamic fundamentalist organization Hamas , which has been ongoing since October 2023.

Al Jazeera not only reports on casualties from fighting in the Gaza Strip around the clock, but also airs video statements by Hamas and other extremist groups in the Gaza Strip, leading the Israeli government to criticize Al Jazeera for being a 'propaganda tool for Hamas' and 'threatening Israel's security.'

In April 2024, the Israeli parliament passed a law allowing the temporary closure of foreign broadcasters deemed a threat to national security. The law allows Al Jazeera's offices in Israel to be closed until the end of July 2024, or until the end of major military operations in the Gaza Strip.

On May 5, 2024, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that 'the Cabinet has agreed to close Al Jazeera's domestic offices while the fighting in the Gaza Strip continues.' Based on this law, Israeli government authorities also closed Al Jazeera's local office, which was located in a hotel room, on the same day and confiscated Al Jazeera's broadcasting equipment.




Israeli authorities also cut off connections to Al Jazeera from domestic cable and satellite television companies, and blocked access to its official website.

Al Jazeera said of the incident, 'The accusation that we are endangering Israel's national security is a dangerous and absurd lie that puts journalists at risk. Al Jazeera strongly condemns this act, which it considers a criminal violation of human rights and the fundamental right to access information. Al Jazeera affirms its right to continue providing news and information to its global audience.'

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights also stated, 'We deplore the Israeli government's closure of Al Jazeera. Free and independent media like Al Jazeera are essential to ensure transparency and accountability, and press freedom is crucial in the Gaza Strip, where reporting is severely restricted. We urge the Israeli government to lift the ban on Al Jazeera.'




The Foreign Press Association (FPA), a non-governmental organization, criticized the move, saying, 'The closure of Al Jazeera in Israel on May 5, 2024 marks a dark day for the media and democracy.'


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