Israel enacts 'Al Jazeera Law'... Netanyahu says "Shut down terrorist channel"

Prohibition on Foreign Media Coverage and Reporting of National Security Threats

Israel has enacted a law banning the Arab media outlet Al Jazeera, which has been reporting unfavorably about Israel in the Gaza Strip war, from newsgathering and reporting.

On the 1st (local time), the Israeli Knesset (parliament) held a plenary session and passed the so-called "Al Jazeera law," allowing the government to forcibly prohibit foreign media deemed harmful to national security from newsgathering and reporting.

Al Jazeera News Agency Logo [Photo by Al Jazeera Twitter]

Under this law, the Israeli government can order the closure of foreign media local bureaus as well as block access to internet servers and websites. The orders must be executed within 24 hours. The related measures can last for 45 days and may be extended. Although it is a temporary law, local media predict that Israel is likely to maintain these measures until the war with Hamas ends.

Immediately after the law passed, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said on the social media platform X, "The terrorist channel Al Jazeera will now cease operations in Israel," adding, "The government will immediately implement the new law." Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, who led the bill’s passage, also emphasized, "Al Jazeera’s channel will be shut down," and "There is no freedom of expression for those representing Hamas in Israel."

This legislation was pushed forward based on the judgment that Al Jazeera had been reporting unfavorably about Israel throughout the Gaza Strip war, which began last year with Hamas’s preemptive attack. For example, in early October last year, when hundreds died in the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, Al Jazeera at the time attributed the cause to an Israeli airstrike. Israel, however, countered that it was due to Hamas rocket fire.

Al Jazeera also claimed that Israel had targeted and killed two of its journalists and that another journalist was injured in an Israeli airstrike. Israel raised suspicions that the injured Al Jazeera journalist was a Hamas commander. Following the passage of the bill, Al Jazeera issued a statement saying, "Netanyahu is justifying his attacks on the media network and press freedom with absurd lies," and pledged to "continue reporting with boldness and professionalism."

Meanwhile, the United States expressed a negative stance on the bill’s passage. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said, "Protecting freedom of the press is important," and added, "If the reports about legislation to close Al Jazeera’s bureau are true, Israel’s actions are concerning."