Israel has passed a contentious new law enabling the government to shut down foreign broadcasters deemed a “threat to national security.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has targeted Qatar-based Al Jazeera, accusing the network of incitement and branding it a “terrorist channel.”
The legislation, passed by the Israeli Knesset on 1 April, grants authorities sweeping powers to halt media operations. Netanyahu, in a post on social media, claimed Al Jazeera had “harmed Israel’s security” and participated in the October 7 attacks by Hamas. He described the network as “the shofar of Hamas” and declared, “The terrorist channel Al Jazeera will no longer broadcast from Israel.”
In response, Al Jazeera Media Network denounced Netanyahu’s accusations as false and inflammatory, labelling the move a direct attack on press freedom. The organisation vowed to continue its coverage and warned of legal action. “Netanyahu could not offer the world any justification for his ongoing attacks on Al Jazeera except for new lies and slander,” the network said in a statement. It also held the Israeli leader accountable for the safety of its staff and premises.
Al Jazeera, which has been a prominent voice in reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since its launch in 1996, has long faced hostility from Tel Aviv over its coverage. The network has lost several journalists to Israeli military action, including Shireen Abu Akleh, killed in 2022 during a raid in Jenin, and more recently, Samer Abudaqa and Hamza Dahdouh, who died in Israeli strikes during the war in Gaza.
The decision to ban Al Jazeera comes amidst escalating global outrage over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the death toll has surpassed 32,490, including 14,200 children and 9,340 women. Reporters Without Borders reports that 103 Palestinian journalists have been killed since the conflict began in October 2023.
The move has also drawn criticism from international bodies. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre called the potential shutdown “concerning,” stressing the critical role of journalists in reporting from Gaza. “The United States supports the essential work of journalists worldwide, including those covering the conflict in Gaza,” she said.
Israel’s crackdown on Al Jazeera aligns with broader efforts to control narratives amid accusations of war crimes and genocide in Gaza. In January, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) urged Israel to halt its actions, which it described as “plausibly” constituting genocide. Critics argue that banning a major news outlet such as Al Jazeera is an attempt to stifle coverage of the atrocities and shield the Israeli government from scrutiny.
While Netanyahu has pledged to act “immediately” to implement the law, human rights advocates and media organisations warn that silencing foreign media further undermines Israel’s commitment to democratic principles and press freedom. The ban, they argue, risks deepening the information void in one of the world’s most volatile regions.