ALBAWABA - As news has been circulating that the Israeli government is planning on closing the offices of Qatar-based Al Jazeera TV in Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the decision has been made after a cabinet vote.
The cabinet voted unanimously to close Al Jazeera's activities in Israel, according to a government statement, which did not specify when the decision would take effect.
Netanyahu claimed that the news guru has always been agitating against Israel and that the time has come to fully close its offices.
Following Netanyahu's announcement, Israeli communication minister Shlomo Karhi ordered the seizure of Al Jazeera's broadcasting equipment after deciding to shut down the country's Qatar-based news channel.
According to an order signed by Communication Minister Karhi, Israel will collect devices "used to deliver the channel's content," such as editing and routing equipment, cameras, microphones, servers and laptops, wireless transmission equipment, and some cell phones.
Earlier last week, Israeli broadcasting corporation KAN said that Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara has given the green light for the cabinet to consider the closure of Al Jazeera offices across Israel and banning its website.
Under the legislation, the communications minister has the authority to shut down international networks operating in Israel and seize their equipment if the defense minister determines that their transmission poses "an actual harm to the state's security".
Al Jazeera has a bureau in Israel and a staff of correspondents working year-round, including covering Israel's continuing brutal aggression on the Gaza Strip.
Al-Aqsa Flood operation against Israel
Hamas military group announced on Oct. 7 a military operation called "Al-Aqsa Flood" against Israel which is the biggest offensive in decades.
Palestinian fighters “infiltrated” Israel from the Gaza Strip and captured military bases and took hostages as photos and videos went viral online showing Hamas fighters on vehicles inside Israel and others paragliding into occupation territory.
In response, Israeli armed forces announced targeting Hamas positions inside the Gaza Strip. Thousands were killed, and dozens of thousands of others were injured in the Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.
