Al Jazeera condemns shutdown by Israel as police raid takes place

The Al Jazeera Media Network has condemned the Israeli government's decision to shut down local operations, describing it as a "criminal act."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet shut down the operations for as long as the war in Gaza continues, on the grounds that the Qatari television network threatens national security.

Israel's communications minister, Shlomo Karhi, said in a video statement that the vote was unanimous and that Al Jazeera "will no longer broadcast here in Israel, and its equipment will be confiscated."

A press release said that "Al Jazeera strongly condemns and denounces this criminal act that violates human rights and the basic right to access information."

The network criticised Israel's motives, suggesting that the closure is part of an effort to suppress the free press, particularly its coverage of the Gaza Strip.

"Israel's ongoing suppression of the free press, seen as an effort to conceal its actions in the Gaza Strip, stands in contravention of international and humanitarian law."

Al Jazeera also highlighted the dangers faced by its journalists and others in the region, noting, "Israel's direct targeting and killing of journalists, arrests, intimidation and threats will not deter Al Jazeera from its commitment to cover, whilst more than 140 Palestinian journalists have been killed since the beginning of the war on Gaza."

Rejecting any allegations of professional misconduct, Al Jazeera reaffirmed its dedication to high journalistic standards and ethics.

"The Network vehemently rejects the allegations presented by Israeli authorities suggesting professional media standards have been violated. It reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the values embodied by its Code of Ethics," the network declared.

Furthermore, Al Jazeera called upon global media freedom, human rights organisations, and other concerned entities to condemn Israel's repeated attacks on journalists and the press

The network also announced its intention to "pursue all available legal channels through international legal institutions" to protect its rights and those of its journalists, as well as the public's right to information.

Journalism organisations had said that such a closure, which had been under discussion in Israel for weeks, would be a blow to press freedom.

Israel shuts down Al Jazeera offices. pic.twitter.com/8gLPtzOu4P

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) May 5, 2024

Office raid

Meanwhile, Israeli police raided a Jerusalem hotel room used by Al Jazeera as its de facto office, an Israeli official and an Al Jazeera source told Reuters.

A video circulated online showed plainclothes officers dismantling camera equipment in a hotel room. The Al Jazeera source said the hotel was in East Jerusalem.

The network has been critical of Israel's military operation in Gaza, from where it has reported around the clock throughout the war.

"The incitement channel Al Jazeera will be closed in Israel," Netanyahu posted on social media following the unanimous cabinet vote.

A government statement said Israel's communications minister signed orders to "act immediately," but at least one lawmaker who supported the closure said Al Jazeera could still try to block it in court.

The measure, the statement said, will include closing Al Jazeera's offices in Israel, confiscating broadcast equipment, cutting off the channel from cable and satellite companies, and blocking its websites. It did not mention Al Jazeera's Gaza operations.

There was no official comment from the Qatari government, which deferred to Al Jazeera.

An "escalation"

Al Jazeera previously called Israeli efforts to curtail its operations an "escalation" and said in a statement in early April that it "comes as part of a series of systematic Israeli attacks to silence Al Jazeera".

It said that Israeli authorities have deliberately targeted and killed several of its journalists, including Samer Abu Daqqa and Hamza AlDahdooh, both killed in Gaza during the conflict. Israel has said it does not target journalists.

Qatar established Al Jazeera in 1996 and views the network as a way to bolster its global profile.

The UN Human Rights Office also criticised the closure:

We regret cabinet decision to close Al Jazeera in Israel. A free & independent media is essential to ensuring transparency & accountability. Now, even more so given tight restrictions on reporting from Gaza. Freedom of expression is a key human right. We urge govt to overturn ban

— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) May 5, 2024

Israel's parliament ratified a law last month allowing the temporary closure in Israel of foreign broadcasters considered to be a threat to national security.

The law allows Netanyahu and his security cabinet to shut down the network's offices in Israel for 45 days, a period that can be renewed, so it could stay in force until the end of July or until the end of major military operations in Gaza.

Qatar, where several Hamas political leaders are based, is trying to mediate a ceasefire and hostage release deal that could halt the Gaza war.