Doha, 6 May 2024, (GNP): The Netanyahu administration is receiving criticism from international and domestic human rights organizations, as well as the foreign press association, for shutting down Al Jazeera. This move is seen as an attempt to suppress dissent during Israel’s conflict in Gaza.
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) announced on Sunday that they had filed a petition with the country’s supreme court, seeking an immediate reversal of the decision.
They rejected assertions that the closure aimed to address security issues, stating it was politically motivated to stifle dissent during the Gaza conflict and target Arabic media.
Israeli authorities raided Al Jazeera’s Jerusalem offices and seized equipment on Sunday, following the government’s decision to shut down the broadcaster.
Dark day for democracy
The Foreign Press Association (FPA), an organization representing foreign media in Israel, the occupied West Bank, and besieged Gaza, has strongly criticized Israel’s decision.
This condemnation reflects broader international concern over the implications of restricting press freedom and access to information in the region.
“With this decision, Israel joins a dubious club of authoritarian governments to ban the station,” it said in a statement.
“This is a dark day for the media. This is a dark day for democracy.”
Covering up Israeli atrocities
Human Rights Watch (HRW) also condemned the decision by the Benjamin Netanyahu government to shut down Al Jazeera, accusing Tel Aviv of attempting to “muzzle” the broadcaster. This adds to the chorus of international voices expressing alarm over the erosion of press freedom and freedom of expression in Israel.
“Al Jazeera’s offices have been bombed in Gaza. Their staff has been beaten in the West Bank. They’ve been killed in the West Bank and Gaza,” said Omar Shakir, HRW’s Israel and Palestine director.
“Israel is trying to muzzle Al Jazeera. But precedent is larger and threatens to cover up Israeli atrocities in Gaza,” he added.
Also Read: Indian citizens arrested for Sikh activist’s killing in Canada
In the previous month, Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, passed legislation enabling the closure of Al Jazeera television.
According to this law, the communications minister can close foreign networks in Israel and seize their equipment if the defense minister determines that their broadcasts pose a genuine threat to national security.
Al Jazeera maintains an office in Israel with a team of correspondents who provide year-round coverage, including the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in the loss of over 34,600 lives since October 7, 2023.