AL JAZEERA OFFICE IN JERUSALEM RAIDED BY ISRAELI POLICE SOON AFTER BANNING BROADCASTER

As soon as the Israeli government voted to ban the international news agency, Al Jazeera, funded by Qatar, the Israeli police raided a Jerusalem hotel room used by Al Jazeera as its de facto office on Sunday.

Al Jazeera has called the action “criminal” and decided to take every legal step” to fight back as it rejected all the accusations of the Israeli government that called the network a security threat to the country.

Some videos have been circulating on online platforms that showed plainclothes officers dismantling camera equipment in a hotel room, situated in in East Jerusalem, as per an Al Jazeera source.

Israel takes channel off air

Israel’s Communications Minister has swiftly moved to shut down Al Jazeera, but they can still try to block the orders via legal steps. The Qatari government has refrained from commenting directly, leaving responses to Al Jazeera, which has characterized the closure as part of a broader campaign by Israel to silence the network.

The network said in an official statement, “Al Jazeera Media Network strongly condemns and denounces this criminal act that violates human rights and the basic right to access of information.” Adding, “Al Jazeera affirms its right to continue to provide news and information to its global audiences.”

UN Human Rights Office condemns move

The UN Human Rights office has joined the fray, condemning the move and stressing the critical role of a free and independent media in ensuring transparency and accountability.

UN tweets on X saying, “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.” With Gaza reporting already under tight restrictions, the closure of Al Jazeera is seen as a further blow to freedom of expression.

(With Reuters input)

2024-05-06T16:01:23Z dg43tfdfdgfd