Al Jazeera condemns Israeli ban extension, calls for its immediate lifting

Qatar-based media network calls move ‘assault’ on press freedom, warns of ‘dangerous pattern’ that undermines ability of news organisations to report.

The headquarters of Al Jazeera Media Network in Doha, Qatar [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]

Al Jazeera Media Network has strongly condemned the Israeli authorities’ decision to extend a ban on its operations in Israel for another 90 days, including the suspension of its broadcasts, the closure of its offices and the restriction of access to its websites and digital platforms.

In a statement on Monday, the Qatar-based network said it considered the move “an assault” on press freedom and the public’s right to information, warning it set “a dangerous pattern that undermines the ability of news organisations to report the facts and hold those in power to account”.

It came after a court in Tel Aviv approved last week the Israeli government’s decision to extend the ban for a further 90 days.⁣

In May 2024 , at the height of Israel’s genocidal war against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet had voted to shut Al Jazeera’s operations in Israel. The decision, which was strongly criticised by press freedom groups, followed the passage of a law by the Israeli parliament that allowed the temporary closure of foreign broadcasters considered to be a “threat to national security”.

In September that year, Israeli forces also stormed Al Jazeera’s offices in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank, confiscating equipment and documents and closing the network’s office.

Al Jazeera, which on Sunday marked its 30th anniversary, said in the statement it “categorically rejects the allegations used to justify the ban” and called for its immediate lifting.

“The Network notes that the extension was based on secret material which neither the Network nor its lawyers were permitted to see or respond to, denying it any genuine opportunity to defend itself and falling short of the most basic guarantees of due process,” it said.

Al Jazeera has been targeted by Israel for years. In 2017, Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes in Gaza, threatened to shut down its Jerusalem office, and an Israeli missile destroyed the building housing its office in Gaza in 2021.

Many Al Jazeera journalists were among more than 200 Palestinian journalists killed by Israel during its genocidal war on Gaza. In several cases, their family members were also killed.

In May 2022, Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot dead by Israeli soldiers in the occupied West Bank. Israel initially denied responsibility, but later admitted there was a “high possibility” that one of its soldiers had killed the journalist, known for her ground reporting from the occupied Palestinian territory.

In its statement, Al Jazeera said that “attempts to silence it will not deter it from fulfilling its mission and continuing its coverage with accuracy and integrity from its bureaus around the world”.

“The Network is reviewing the decision with its legal counsel and reserves the right to pursue all appropriate legal measures to protect its journalists, its rights and the public’s right to information,” it added.

卡塔尔媒体网络称此举是对新闻自由的“攻击”，并警告称这是一种“危险的模式”，会削弱新闻机构的报道能力。

半岛电视台媒体网络位于卡塔尔多哈的总部 [Showkat Shafi/半岛电视台]

半岛电视台强烈谴责以色列当局决定将其在以色列的业务禁令再延长90天，其中包括暂停其广播、关闭其办公室以及限制访问其网站和数字平台。

这家总部位于卡塔尔的媒体机构周一发表声明称，他们认为此举是对新闻自由和公众知情权的“攻击”，并警告说，这开创了一种“危险的模式，削弱了新闻机构报道事实和追究当权者责任的能力”。

此前，特拉维夫一家法院上周批准了以色列政府将禁令延长90天的决定。

2024年5月，正值以色列对加沙地带巴勒斯坦人发动种族灭绝战争的高峰期，总理本雅明·内塔尼亚胡的内阁投票决定关闭半岛电视台在以色列的业务。这一决定遭到新闻自由组织的强烈批评。此前，以色列议会通过了一项法律，允许暂时关闭被认为“威胁国家安全”的外国广播公司。

同年9月，以色列军队还突袭了位于被占领的约旦河西岸拉马拉的半岛电视台办公室，没收了设备和文件，并关闭了该电视台的办公室。

半岛电视台周日迎来了成立 30 周年纪念日，该电视台在一份声明中表示，“断然否认用来证明禁令合理性的指控”，并呼吁立即解除禁令。

该组织表示：“该组织注意到，延期是基于秘密材料，该组织及其律师均无权查看或回应这些材料，这剥夺了该组织任何真正的辩护机会，也未能保障正当程序的最低要求。”

多年来，半岛电视台一直是以色列的攻击目标。2017年，因在加沙犯下战争罪行而被国际刑事法院通缉的内塔尼亚胡威胁要关闭半岛电视台位于耶路撒冷的办公室；2021年，一枚以色列导弹摧毁了半岛电视台位于加沙的办公楼。

许多半岛电视台记者是以色列在加沙种族灭绝战争中杀害的200多名巴勒斯坦记者之一。在一些案例中，他们的家人也遭到杀害。

2022年5月，半岛电视台记者希琳·阿布·阿克勒在被占领的约旦河西岸被以色列士兵枪杀。以色列最初否认对此负责，但后来承认“极有可能”是其一名士兵杀害了这位以在被占领的巴勒斯坦领土进行实地报道而闻名的记者。

半岛电视台在声明中表示，“任何试图让它噤声的企图都不会阻止它履行使命，并将继续通过其遍布全球的分社，以准确和诚信的态度进行报道”。

“本电视台正在与法律顾问一起审查这一决定，并保留采取一切适当法律措施的权利，以保护其记者、自身权利以及公众的知情权，”该电视台补充道。