Israeli minister calls for police action on Al Jazeera viewers

Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, has renewed his calls for action against Al Jazeera in Israel, Middle East Eye reported on June 19th.

He urged police to target anyone watching the network’s broadcasts. Ben Gvir described Al Jazeera as a threat to national security during a televised statement aired live by Al Jazeera Arabic and Al Jazeera Mubasher.

His comments followed Israel’s ban on Al Jazeera’s reporters and staff from operating in the country. The Palestinian Authority imposed a similar ban earlier this year. It obstructed the media organisation’s coverage from the occupied West bank.

Last year, according to The Associated Press on May 5th 2024, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel ordered the closure of the local offices of Qatar-owned Al Jazeera. The government’s unanimous decision included seizing some of the channel’s broadcast equipment and blocking its websites.

This move reportedly marked the first time Israel shut down a foreign news outlet within its borders. Al Jazeera’s broadcasts stopped on Israeli cable and satellite platforms shortly after the order. The closure came during ongoing ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas, mediated by Qatar, while tensions between Israel and the broadcaster intensified.

According to a report by Al Jazeera on April 2nd, Israel’s war on Gaza has resulted in the deaths of 232 journalists. This figure surpasses the combined journalist fatalities in both World War One and Two, the Vietnam War, the wars in Yugoslavia, and the US war on Afghanistan.

Reportedly, most of the victims were local reporters working without adequate support. Additionally, 35 journalists may have been deliberately targeted.

Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera Arabic, Al Jazeera Mubasher, Middle East Eye, The Associated Press