Israeli Parliament Approves Law to Ban Al Jazeera Broadcasts
TEL AVIV — The Israeli parliament has approved a law giving the government the power to ban broadcasts of TV channels including Al Jazeera, the Qatari-owned network.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasted no time in promising to take action by closing the network’s local office. This move has sparked concern from the United States.
With foreign journalists prohibited from entering Gaza, Al Jazeera staff stationed in the area have been among the few reporters able to provide on-the-ground coverage of the ongoing conflict.
The Knesset, Israel’s parliament, has now passed a bill that allows for foreign networks deemed a threat to national security to be “temporarily” banned.
The ban would be in effect for 45-day periods that can be renewed, lasting until July or the conclusion of significant fighting in Gaza.
“Al Jazeera will no longer be broadcast from Israel,” Netanyahu declared on Twitter, branding the network a “terrorist channel”.
Israeli officials have long criticized Al Jazeera for what they perceive as an anti-Israeli bias, but these criticisms have intensified following Hamas attacks on October 7. Authorities allege that the network has ties to Hamas, a claim that Al Jazeera vehemently denies.
Al Jazeera has yet to respond to requests for comment on the situation.
The network has accused Israel of deliberately targeting its staff. Journalists, including Hamza Al-Dahdouh, son of Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau chief Wael Al-Dahdouh, have been killed in Israeli strikes. Israel denies targeting journalists.
Qatar, where Al Jazeera is based, is currently mediating talks between Israel and Hamas in an effort to resolve the nearly six-month-long conflict. Previous negotiations mediated by Qatar resulted in a temporary ceasefire and the release of 105 Israeli hostages.
It remains uncertain whether Israel’s actions will impact the ceasefire talks. Israel has previously banned a smaller Lebanese channel, Al Mayadeen, from operating within its borders.
“If true, a move like this is concerning,” remarked White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre when asked about the proposed ban.
The conflict began when Hamas fighters launched an incursion into southern Israel on October 7, resulting in approximately 1,200 casualties and the capture of 253 hostages, according to Israeli reports. Over 130 hostages are still held captive, with at least 34 feared dead.
More than 32,800 Palestinians have been killed and 75,000 injured in Gaza since the start of Israel’s military campaign, as reported by the Hamas-run Health Ministry. The ministry notes that 70% of those killed were women and children.
Al Jazeera, which debuted in 1996, revolutionized the media landscape in the Middle East by airing critiques of governments and leaders in the region.
Al Jazeera has claimed to be the first Arabic channel to feature Israeli politicians and commentators on its broadcasts. — BBC
