GUWAHATI: In a controversial move, the Israeli cabinet, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, voted unanimously to close Al Jazeera's offices in Israel, revoking crew accreditations, banning media service providers from transmitting its broadcasts, and blocking access to Al Jazeera's websites. The decision comes just as the world marked World Press Freedom Day, sparking outrage over the suppression of free press.
Al Jazeera Media Network strongly condemned the Israeli government's actions, describing them as a "criminal act" that violates human rights and the fundamental right to access information. The network reaffirmed its commitment to providing news and information to its global audiences despite the ongoing suppression.
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"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," Al Jazeera said in a statement.
The network strongly rejected Israeli authorities' allegations suggesting that it had violated professional media standards. Al Jazeera affirmed its unwavering commitment to its Code of Ethics, which emphasises truthfulness, accuracy, and impartiality in its reporting.
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Israel's crackdown on Al Jazeera has raised serious concerns among press freedom and human rights groups. Al Jazeera urged all organisations advocating for media freedom and human rights to condemn Israel's repeated attacks on journalists and the press. The network announced its intention to pursue all available legal channels through international institutions and called on the international community to hold those responsible to account.
"Targeting journalists is a crime," Al Jazeera stated.
