By JERUSELUM: The Israeli parliament has passed a bill granting top ministers the authority to block the broadcasting of Al Jazeera news channel in Israel.
According to international media, Israel Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly ready to implement the ban with immediate effect.
The bill, passed by a significant margin of 70 votes to 10, not only enables the prohibition of foreign media broadcasts but also sanctions the closure of their offices within Israeli territory. Netanyahu has expressed his determination to take “immediate action” to shut down Al Jazeera within Israel once the legislation is enacted.
This development follows Israel’s claims earlier this year that a journalist and a freelancer from Al Jazeera, killed in an air strike in Gaza, were linked to “terror activities”. Subsequently, another journalist wounded in a separate strike was accused of being associated with Hamas.
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Tensions have escalated between Israel and Hamas since October, with Israeli forces engaging in combat operations against the militant group in Gaza. Al Jazeera has vehemently denied Israel’s allegations and accused the country of deliberately targeting its employees in Gaza.
The bill allowing authorities to intervene against foreign media perceived as jeopardising national security had already cleared its initial parliamentary hurdle last month. Netanyahu’s Likud party has indicated its desire to ensure the swift approval of the law to close Al Jazeera within Israel’s parliament, the Knesset.
Earlier, the bureau chief of Al Jazeera in the Palestinian territory, Wael al-Dahdouh, was also injured in an Israeli strike in December, which claimed the life of the network’s cameraman.
The conflict between Israel and Hamas erupted following an attack by the militant group on October 7, resulting in approximately 1,160 deaths in Israel, predominantly civilians, according to figures from the Israeli authorities. In response, Israel’s retaliatory measures have reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 32,845 individuals, primarily women and children, according to the health ministry in Gaza, which is under Hamas control.
