Israel prepares to temporarily close Al Jazeera for “harming national security”

The Government of Israel is preparing an emergency regulation to temporarily close media outlets whose information “harms national security” in the current war with the Gaza militias, a measure that seeks to stop the broadcasts of the Qatari channel Al Jazeera.

The Ministry of Communications has already drafted the emergency measure, with the approval of the Defense portfolio and the Israeli security forces, and all that remains is the final approval of the Government, which is expected in the next few hours, according to a ministerial statement.

Once cabinet authorization is obtained, the order to close Al Jazeera will take “immediate” effect, according to the statement.

“In light of evidence demonstrating that the Al Jazeera channel broadcasts content that harms national security, the government authorizes actions to close the channel in Israel.”

“Incendiary emissions”

With the approval of the Government, the closure order, which involves “suspending broadcasts, closing the channel’s offices, revoking journalists’ credentials and confiscating equipment,” will be signed by the Minister of Communications and implemented immediately.

“Israel is at war. On land, in the air, in the sea and in ideas. We will not allow broadcasts to harm state security,” said Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi.

According to the minister, the “inflammatory broadcasts against Israel”, in reference to the journalistic work of Al Jazeera, “serve Hamas-Daesh (equating the Gaza group with the Islamic State) and other terrorist organizations in propaganda that encourages violence against Israel”.

The order to close the Qatari channel will be carried out, according to the ministry, after having collected evidence that “it helps the enemy in transmitting propaganda in the service of Hamas in Arabic and English to viewers around the world and even transmits confidential information.”

The emergency measure will be in effect for at least three months under the current state of war, while the order to close Al Jazeera will be for 30 days, which may be extended for another 30.

Since the war with the Islamist militias in Gaza began, Al Jazeera has reported for 24 hours with images on the destruction within the Strip, where it has deployed a broad journalistic device, far superior to that of most media.

It was also the first media outlet to go to the Al Ahli hospital in Gaza City, where an explosion caused 470 deaths on Wednesday, according to Hamas, although its origin is unclear. With EFE

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