Israeli police raided Al Jazeera’s office in occupied East Jerusalem after Netanyahu's government decided to shut down the network's local operations in Israel. Video on social media showed officers removing camera equipment. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the closure of Al Jazeera's office, effective immediately, following a discussion by the Security Cabinet.

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Israel-Gaza War

Israeli police conducted a raid on the offices of Al Jazeera in occupied East Jerusalem following an order from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to cease the network's operations within Israel. The operation, which was captured in videos shared on social media, involved officers removing broadcasting equipment from the premises. This action comes on the heels of a unanimous decision by Netanyahu's Security Cabinet to shut down Al Jazeera's local operations immediately.

The government's directive includes a comprehensive strategy to halt Al Jazeera's activities in the country, encompassing the confiscation of broadcasting equipment, cessation of network broadcasts, and the blocking of its websites. The move is described by the Israeli government as an effort to close down what it calls the "incitement mouthpiece of Hamas" within Israel. Following the government's decision, Al Jazeera's broadcasts were removed from Israel's primary cable service provider. The emergency closure is set to last for 45 days and may be extended for an additional 45 days.

In response, Al Jazeera has condemned the Israeli measures, framing them as an attack on free press and an attempt to hide Israel's activities in the Gaza Strip. The network labeled these actions as violations of international and humanitarian law. Al Jazeera remains committed to its coverage, despite the Israeli government directly targeting and killing journalists, alongside arrests, intimidation, and threats. Moreover, Al Jazeera refutes the allegations of failing to adhere to professional media standards, amid assertions by Israeli authorities.

The decision to close Al Jazeera's operations in Israel has garnered international concern, including from the White House, which last month described the move as concerning and reiterated its support for the freedom of the press. The Foreign Press Association also criticized the action, calling it a "dark day for media and democracy," urging the Israeli government to reconsider this decision.



Israeli police raids Al Jazeera office after shutdown order

An unprecedented sight. Israeli police raid Al Jazeera's workspace in occupied East Jerusalem, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet voted to shut down the network's operations. The government order, which was unanimously agreed upon, includes confiscating its broadcast equipment, preventing the network's broadcasts and blocking its websites. The government has now unanimously ordered the closure of the incitement mouthpiece of Hamas in Israel, Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera's broadcast was taken off Israel's main cable provider in the hours after the order. The emergency measure will last for 45 days, with the possibility of an extension for an additional 45 days. In a statement, Al Jazeera media network condemned the measure, saying in part, 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. 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, the network vehemently rejects the allegations presented by Israeli authorities, suggesting professional media standards have been violated. Last month, the White House said Israel's plans to close the network were, quote, concerning. A move like this is concerning. We believe in the freedom of the press. It is critical. It is critically important. And the United States supports the critically important work journalists around the world do. And so and that includes those who are reporting in in the conflict in Gaza. The widely criticized move was also condemned by the Foreign Press Association, which urged the Israeli government to reverse what it called a harmful step, adding that this was a dark day for the media and a dark day for democracy. Hamda Salhout, Al Jazeera.

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