Al Jazeera criticizes Israel’s decision to ban network: ‘Criminal move’ | Global News

Al Jazeera Condemns Israel’s Decision to Ban Network, Calls it a “Criminal Move”

Qatar-based network Al Jazeera has strongly criticized Israel’s recent decision to ban the broadcaster and its operations in the country. In a statement released on social media platform X, Al Jazeera labeled the move as a “criminal decision” that violates the basic human right to access information.

The decision to ban Al Jazeera came from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, citing the channel’s coverage of the Gaza war as the reason behind the move. This decision follows months of criticism from the Netanyahu government towards Al Jazeera, which began even before the conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

The Israeli government’s official statement outlined measures to close Al Jazeera’s offices in Israel, confiscate broadcast equipment, cut off the channel from cable and satellite companies, and block its websites. However, it did not mention Al Jazeera’s operations in Gaza.

Al Jazeera has been actively reporting on the ground from Gaza since the conflict began, showcasing the aftermath of Israel’s offensive in the region. The network’s office in Gaza has been bombed, and two of its correspondents have been killed during the conflict.

Al Jazeera has accused Israel of deliberately targeting and killing its journalists reporting from Gaza, a claim that Israel has denied. The network has called Israeli efforts to curtail its operations an “escalation” and condemned the decision to ban it as part of a series of systematic attacks to silence Al Jazeera.

The ban on Al Jazeera in Israel has sparked international concern over press freedom and access to information. The network’s journalists continue to report from the region despite the challenges they face.