Israeli Authorities Raid Al Jazeera’s Nazareth Office

Jerusalem, 9 May, 2024 (TPS) -- Police and inspectors from Israel’s Ministry of Communications raided the Al Jazeera TV network’s office in Nazareth on Thursday, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Today, I ordered a raid on the Al Jazeera studios in Nazareth. The Ministry of Communications inspectors together with the Northern District Police Tactical Division are confiscating equipment there now. We will not allow the Hamas loudspeaker to broadcast from Israel,” he said.

The Israeli government unanimously authorized authorities to revoke the network’s press credentials and confiscate transmitters on Sunday. The shutdown is not permanent but is subject to renewal every 45 days.

Efforts to ban Al Jazeera gained momentum in February after reporter Mohamed Washah was exposed as a Hamas commander. Soldiers recovered his laptop in northern Gaza and discovered he played a prominent role in the terror group’s anti-armor missile systems.

In October, Al Jazeera was accused of endangering Israeli soldiers by exposing details of where forces were assembling, prompting the Cabinet to approve emergency regulations to temporarily shut down Al Jazeera operations in Israel. While that move received across-the-board support from the security and diplomatic establishment, it was never implemented as Qatar emerged as a mediator between Israel and Hamas for a hostage swap.

At least 1,200 people were killed and 240 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Around 30 of the remaining 132 hostages are believed dead.