JERUSALEM/DOHA: Israeli police raided a Jerusalem hotel room used by Al Jazeera as its de facto office on Sunday. This follows a government decision to shut down the Qatari-owned TV station’s local operations.
Video circulated online showed plainclothes officers dismantling camera equipment in a hotel room. The Al Jazeera source said the hotel was in East Jerusalem.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet shut down the network for as long as the war in Gaza continues, on the grounds the Qatari television network threatens national security.
‘Dangerous Lie’
The channel said the accusation was a “dangerous and ridiculous lie” that puts its journalists at risk. It said that it reserved the right to “pursue every legal step”.
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. Israel’s communications minister signed orders to “act immediately” following the cabinet approval. But at least one lawmaker who supported the closure said Al Jazeera could try to block it in court.
The measures 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.
Al Jazeera earlier described Israeli efforts to curtail its operations as an “escalation. ” This “comes as part of a series of systematic Israeli attacks to silence Al Jazeera,” it said in April.
It also said Israeli authorities deliberately targeted and killed several of its journalists. These include Samer Abu Daqqa and Hamza AlDahdooh, both killed in Gaza during the conflict. Israel has said it does not target journalists.
Qatar established the channel in 1996 and views the network as a way to bolster its global profile. “Al Jazeera affirms its right to continue to provide news and information to its global audiences,” the network said in a statement.
UN Criticises Move
The UN Human Rights Office also criticised the closure. “A free & independent media is essential to ensuring transparency & accountability, it said on X. “Now, even more so given tight restrictions on reporting from Gaza… We urge govt to overturn ban.”
Israel’s parliament last month ratified a law allowing the temporary closure in Israel of foreign broadcasters considered a threat to national security.
The law allows Netanyahu and his security cabinet to shut the network’s offices in Israel for 45 days. This 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.
In April 2015, the Indian government had banned the Al Jazeera TV channel for five days for repeatedly broadcasting disputed maps of India.
(REUTERS)
