(EDITORS NOTE: Picture depicts demise.) Wael Al-Dahdouh, Al Jazeera bureau chief in Gaza, middle, comforts kin on the funeral of his son, Al Jazeera journalist Hamza Dahdouh, killed in an Israeli airstrike, in Rafah, southern Gaza, on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is concentrated on accelerating humanitarian assist to Palestinian civilians in Gaza and garnering help for post-conflict Gaza’s governance. Photographer: Ahmad Salem/Bloomberg by way of Getty Pictures
Ahmad Salem | Bloomberg | Getty Pictures
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Sunday that his authorities has voted unanimously to close down the native places of work of Qatar-owned broadcaster Al Jazeera.
Netanyahu introduced the choice on X, previously Twitter, however particulars on the implications of the step on the channel, when it will go into impact, or whether or not it was everlasting or quickly shuttered weren’t instantly clear.
The choice escalated Israel’s long-running feud in opposition to Al Jazeera. It additionally threatened to intensify tensions with Qatar, which owns the channel, at a time when the Doha authorities is taking part in a key function in mediation efforts to halt the struggle in Gaza.
Israel has lengthy had a rocky relationship with Al Jazeera, accusing it of bias in opposition to it.
Al Jazeera is likely one of the few worldwide media retailers to stay in Gaza all through the struggle, broadcasting bloody scenes of airstrikes and overcrowded hospitals and accusing Israel of massacres. Israel accuses Al Jazeera of collaborating with Hamas.
Al Jazeera, the Doha-based broadcaster funded by Qatar’s authorities, didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark. Al Jazeera’s Arabic-language broadcaster acknowledged the information in its broadcast Sunday. Its English arm continued to function with reside pictures from East Jerusalem simply minutes after the announcement by Netanyahu.
Whereas Al Jazeera’s English operation usually resembles the programming discovered on different main broadcast networks, its Arabic arm usually publishes verbatim video statements from Hamas and different militant teams within the area. It equally got here below harsh U.S. criticism throughout America’s occupation of Iraq after its 2003 invasion toppled director Saddam Hussein.
It stays unclear how such an order could be enforced by Israel.
