The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has joined its affiliate the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate (PJS) in condemning the Israeli government’s shutdown of Al Jazeera, and called for the broadcaster to be allowed to resume operations. The Federation also raised concerns about the confiscation of journalists’ personal work equipment and phones.
On 5 May, the Israeli government voted to close the Qatari-based channel in Israel – raiding its offices, removing its broadcasts from menus of Israeli broadcast providers and blocking its websites.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on X that the government had “unanimously decided that the incitement channel Al Jazeera will be closed in Israel”.
The Israeli government has regularly targeted the Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera and has threatened to close it down, on the grounds of alleged bias against Israel. However, their relationship has further deteriorated since the start of the war in Gaza. A new legislation, passed by the parliament on 1 April and strongly condemned by the IFJ, authorised officials to do so after consultations and approval from legal and security officials.
In a statement published on ‘X’, Al Jazeera Media Network condemned and denounced its shutdown as a “criminal act that violates human rights and the basic right to access information”.
IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: “Banning journalists and shutting down broadcasters are moves straight from the despots playbook. This is a further departure by the Israeli government from the respect for a free media expected of a democracy. We have already seen foreign reporters banned from Gaza, attacks on Israel’s domestic media, and truly shocking treatment of Palestinian journalists.”
Bellanger also called into question Israel’s motives for confiscating journalists’ phones and personal computers. “What possible motivation could there be for snatching phones and computers, save for trying to discover the journalists’ sources – this violates the most elemental rights of reporters to protect their sources”.
Omar Nazzal, Vice-President of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS), who represents Palestinian journalists working for Al Jazeera said: “We condemn this decision, which targets freedom of expression and the ability of journalists to do their work. It is indicative of the desperation of the occupation government.”
Michelle Stanistreet, General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the United Kingdom and Ireland, which is recognised to represent Al Jazeera’s journalists in London said: “Those with secrets to hide or who are ashamed of their actions forcibly close down television stations. Targeting Al Jazeera as the Israeli government has is a direct attack on free speech that brings shame on those responsible – I hope they will soon realise their error and reverse this decision.”