The Israeli government has decided to close down Al Jazeera's offices across Israel, including Jerusalem, following a vote by government ministers conducted via phone, as reported by Israel Hayom. This decision comes after a series of events that have put Qatar under scrutiny, including the exposure of an Al Jazeera journalist as a Hamas commander. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) found evidence linking the journalist to Hamas, including the recovery of a laptop belonging to Muhammad Washah, an Al Jazeera journalist, in the northern Gaza Strip. This move has been interpreted by some as an end to free speech in the region. The closure of Al Jazeera's offices is seen as a significant blow to Qatar, especially following a weekend where Qatar's ties with Texas A&M were severed, its mediation efforts were bypassed by the IDF in a hostage rescue operation, and Qatar-financed Hamas battalions were reported to be falling. The decision to close the offices, initially threatened in November but postponed in hope of Qatar aiding in freeing all hostages, has now been solidified with the Israeli Cabinet agreeing to advance a draft bill for the ban.
BREAKING: Israeli government to shut down Al Jazeera offices in Jerusalem. 👏👏👏 https://t.co/kjqu2OaEZt
🚨🇮🇱ISRAEL APPROVES BILL TO SHUT DOWN AL JAZEERA OFFICES The vote came after evidence was found tying an Al Jazeera journalist to Hamas. IDF spokesperson: “A laptop that belonged to Muhammad Washah, an Al Jazeera journalist, was recovered by IDF in the northern Gaza Strip. It… https://t.co/6QikkCbh1i
Israel threatened to ban Qatar's Al Jazeera in November but held off because it half-hoped Qatar might be helpful in freeing all hostages. Since then, multiple AJ reporters have been exposed as Hamas terrorists—while Qatar has proven itself more interested in sustaining Hamas. https://t.co/RYHhlbpjJk
BREAKING: ISRAELI GOVERNMENT TO CLOSE DOWN AL JAZEERA OFFICE ACROSS ISRAEL The end of free speech speech Police State https://t.co/qKdFR5uuWk
Israeli media: Israel's government approves a decision to close down Al Jazeera offices across the 1948-occupied territories. https://t.co/crCX8mBFvr
Israel Moves to Ban Al Jazeera After Journalist Exposed as Hamas Commander Israeli Cabinet ministers agreed on Monday to advance a draft bill to ban Qatar’s #AlJazeera after one of its journalists was exposed as a #Hamas commander. https://t.co/Au0ShLPLmz https://t.co/9VH3j2EhgY
Bad weekend for Qatar: - Texas A&M is excising ties, a major blow to Qatari prestige - IDF rescued two hostages, bypassing vaunted Qatari "mediation" - Qatar-financed Hamas battalions are falling like dominos Al Jazeera editors are presently sweating on how to frame it all.
The Israeli government confirmed: Al Jazeera's offices in Israel will be closed.
#Breaking: Right now: Israeli Government ministers vote by phone to close Al Jazeera. (Israel Hayom) https://t.co/4OIDXxyR5W https://t.co/sDpuYlrm5o