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Israeli satellite and cable television providers suspended broadcasts of Al Jazeera after the government decision to shut down the network's operations in Israel for as long as the war on Gaza continues. Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet made the decision on the grounds the television network, in their estimation, threatens national security. The network is funded by the Qatari government and has been critical of Israel's military operation in Gaza, from where it has reported around the clock throughout the war. "The incitement channel Al Jazeera will be closed in Israel," Netanyahu posted on social media following the unanimous cabinet vote. "Al Jazeera Media Network strongly condemns and denounces this criminal act that violates human rights and the basic right to access of information," the network said in a statement. "Al Jazeera affirms its right to continue to provide news and information to its global audiences." The UN Human Rights Office also criticised the closure, urging the Israeli government to overturn the ban, citing the importance of "free and independent media". We regret cabinet decision to close Al Jazeera in Israel. A free & independent media is essential to ensuring transparency & accountability. Now, even more so given tight restrictions on reporting from Gaza. Freedom of expression is a key human right. We urge govt to overturn ban Israel's parliament last month ratified a law allowing the temporary closure in Israel of foreign broadcasters considered to be a threat to national security. The law allows Netanyahu and his security cabinet to shut the network's offices in Israel for 45 days, a period that can be renewed, so it could stay in force until the end of July or until the end of major military operations in Gaza. Key events Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this featureIsraeli satellite and cable TV providers suspend broadcasts of Al Jazeera
Qatar-based network Al Jazeera condemned as "criminal" a move by the Israeli government to ban the broadcaster from operating over its coverage of the Gaza war. "We condemn and denounce this criminal act by Israel that violates the human right to access information," the channel said in a statement, adding that it would take legal action. Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said his government had decided unanimously to close the channel, and hours later it went off-air. The measure will include closing Al Jazeera's offices in Israel, confiscating broadcast equipment, cutting off the channel from cable and satellite companies and blocking its websites. An Israeli official and an Al Jazeera source told Reuters that Israeli police raided a Jerusalem hotel room used by the network as its de facto office on Sunday.
Israel's defence minister, Yoav Gallant, accused Hamas of showing signs it was not serious about reaching a truce, and said that if this was the case Israel would launch military actions in Rafah and other parts of the Gaza Strip "in the very near future". His comments come as negotiators have resumed truce talks in Cairo, the Egyptian capital, to broker a pause in Israel's war on Gaza in return for the potential release of hostages taken by Hamas. Netanyahu vowed last week that Israel will proceed with an offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah even if renewed efforts at internationally brokered talks with Hamas result in the release of hostages and a ceasefire.
Prospects for a Gaza ceasefire appeared slim on Sunday as Hamas reiterated its demand for an end to the war in exchange for the freeing of hostages - something Netanyahu flatly ruled out. In their second day of truce talks in Cairo with Egyptian and Qatari mediators, Hamas negotiators maintained their stance that any truce agreement must end the war, Palestinian officials said. Netanyahu earlier hardened his rejection of Hamas demands for an end to the Gaza war in exchange for the freeing of hostages, saying that would keep the Palestinian militant group in power and pose a threat to Israel's security. The Israeli prime minister said Israel was willing to pause fighting in Gaza in order to secure the release of hostages still being held by Hamas, believed to number more than 130.
The armed wing of Hamas claimed responsibility for an attack on the Kerem Shalom crossing between Israel and Gaza, which Israeli and Palestinian media reports said had resulted in Israeli casualties. Israel's military said 10 projectiles were launched from Rafah towards the crossing, which it said was now closed to aid trucks going into the coastal enclave.
At least 34,683 Palestinian people have been killed and 78,018 injured in Israeli strikes on Gaza since 7 October, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement.
We are closing this blog now, but you can stay up to date on the Guardian's Middle East coverage here.
Israeli police raided a Jerusalem hotel room used by Al Jazeera as its de facto office on Sunday after a government decision to shut down the Qatari-owned TV station's local operations, an Israeli official and an Al Jazeera source told Reuters.
Video circulated online showed plainclothes officers dismantling camera equipment in a hotel room, but is yet to be independently verified by the Guardian.
Israeli satellite and cable television providers suspended broadcasts of Al Jazeera after the government decision to shut down the network's operations in Israel for as long as the war on Gaza continues.
Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet made the decision on the grounds the television network, in their estimation, threatens national security.
The network is funded by the Qatari government and has been critical of Israel's military operation in Gaza, from where it has reported around the clock throughout the war.
"The incitement channel Al Jazeera will be closed in Israel," Netanyahu posted on social media following the unanimous cabinet vote.
"Al Jazeera Media Network strongly condemns and denounces this criminal act that violates human rights and the basic right to access of information," the network said in a statement.
"Al Jazeera affirms its right to continue to provide news and information to its global audiences."
The UN Human Rights Office also criticised the closure, urging the Israeli government to overturn the ban, citing the importance of "free and independent media".
We regret cabinet decision to close Al Jazeera in Israel. A free & independent media is essential to ensuring transparency & accountability. Now, even more so given tight restrictions on reporting from Gaza. Freedom of expression is a key human right. We urge govt to overturn ban
— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) May 5, 2024
Israel's parliament last month ratified a law allowing the temporary closure in Israel of foreign broadcasters considered to be a threat to national security.
The law allows Netanyahu and his security cabinet to shut the network's offices in Israel for 45 days, a period that can be renewed, so it could stay in force until the end of July or until the end of major military operations in Gaza.
Qatar's Al Jazeera's network has condemned the move by Israeli cabinet to shut down its operations in Israel, calling it a "criminal action" (see earlier post at 11.24 for more details).
"Israel's suppression of free press to cover up its crimes by killing and arresting journalists has not detered us from performing our duty," it said.
Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet decided on Sunday to shut down Al Jazeera's operations in Israel for as long as the war in Gaza continues.
A government statement said Israel's communications minister signed orders to "act immediately", but at least one lawmaker who supported the closure said Al Jazeera could still try to block it in court.
The measure, the statement said, will include closing Al Jazeera's offices in Israel, confiscating broadcast equipment, cutting off the channel from cable and satellite companies and blocking its websites. It did not mention Al Jazeera's Gaza operations.
Israel's defence minister, Yoav Gallant, has accused Hamas of showing signs it was not serious about reaching a truce, and said that if this was the case Israel would launch military actions in Rafah and other parts of the Gaza Strip "in the very near future".
Gallant is part of the three-man war cabinet- which also includes the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Benny Gantz, a former defence minister and centrist Netanyahu rival, as well as several observers.
His comments come as negotiators have resumed truce talks in Cairo, the Egyptian capital, to broker a pause in Israel's war on Gaza in return for the potential release of hostages taken by Hamas.
Separately, there are increasing signs that Israel is preparing for its long-threatened ground operation in Rafah, the only part of the Palestinian territory that has not faced ground fighting, and where more than half of the strip's 2.3 million population has sought shelter.
The plan for the operation has drawn intense opposition from Israel's allies, including the US, which says the overcrowded conditions could lead to thousands of civilian casualties as well as further disrupting aid deliveries entering from Egypt.
Netanyahu vowed last week that Israel will proceed with an offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah even if renewed efforts at internationally brokered talks with Hamas result in the release of hostages and a ceasefire.
Here is the video of Benjamin Netanyahu saying he cannot accept ending the war in Gaza now because it would keep Hamas in power (see earlier post at 12.26):
Netanyahu says he will not accept deal that keeps Hamas in power in Gaza - videoStudents across Britain have said they hope pro-Palestine protests will reach the same scale as those seen on US campuses as they call for universities to divest from companies supplying arms to Israel.
Protests have spread across university campuses in Sheffield, Bristol and Leeds, after a crackdown in the US on protests, which led to mass arrests of students and staff.
More than 2,000 people have been arrested on university campuses in the US, garnering attention from international media and people in the besieged Gaza Strip, including Bisan Owda, a Palestinian journalist and content creator living in Gaza, who encouraged student protesters "to do more" for this "unprecedented moment" in a video posted on Instagram.
Samira Ali, 24, is one of about 100 students who stormed the library at Goldsmiths, University of London this week, occupying the first two floors. Ali, a third-year sociology student and co-organiser for Goldsmiths for Palestine, said 30 students had occupied the building, demanding the university ends "financial complicity" and condemns the war in Gaza.
"I think that it's only right what we're doing right now as students standing up for Palestine, particularly saying that it's not acceptable that the universities that we attend - particularly universities like Goldsmiths which rely on international reputation of being a progressive university - to stay silent on what's going on in Palestine, the massacres, the horrors and also be complicit in investments," she said.
You can read the full story by the Guardian's community affairs correspondent, Neha Gohil, here:
The head of Al Jazeera in Israel and the Palestinian territories has called the decision by the Netanyahu government to close the station in the territory "dangerous" and motivated by politics. Al Jazeera's legal team is preparing a response, Reuters says.
The cabinet vote to close Al Jazeera in Israel means the communications minister Shlomo Karhi will be empowered to order the channel's offices in Israel to close, block access to its website and seize equipment.
Hamas has claimed responsibility for an attack on the Kerem Shalom crossing into Gaza, saying it targeted an Israeli military base.
Israel's military said 10 projectiles were launched from Rafah in southern Gaza towards the crossing, which it said was now closed to aid trucks going into the coastal enclave. However, other crossings remain open.
Hamas' armed wing said it fired rockets at an Israeli army base by the crossing, but did not confirm where it fired them from. Hamas media quoted a source close to the group saying the commercial crossing was not the target, according to Reuters.
Israel has closed the crossing, an access point for humanitarian aid trucks, after the attack, which the IDF says came from the direction of Rafah. Israeli forces said 10 projectiles had been launched.
Rafah, a city on the Egyptian border, is the only part of the Palestinian territory that has not faced ground fighting, and more than half of the strip's 2.3 million population has sought shelter there.
Reports in the Israeli and Palestinian media say the attack caused seven Israeli casualties, with several listed as being in a serious condition. These claims have not yet been independently verified by the Guardian.
Hamas leaders held a second day of truce talks with Egyptian and Qatari mediators on Sunday, with no apparent progress reported. One Palestinian official, close to the mediation effort, told Reuters that the Hamas delegation had arrived in Cairo with a determination to reach a deal "but not at any price". One of the main sticking points seems to be whether the deal would be temporary or permanent. Israel wants a deal to free at least some of the about 130 hostages held by Hamas, which has said it wants a lasting ceasefire.
Speaking as negotiations were being held in the Egyptian capital, Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, hardened his rejection of Hamas demands for an end to the Gaza war in exchange for the freeing of hostages, saying that would keep the Palestinian militant group in power and pose a threat to Israel's security.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said the Palestinian militant group was keen on reaching a comprehensive ceasefire that would end Israeli "aggression", guarantee Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, and achieve a serious hostage-swap deal. Haniyeh, in his statement, blamed Netanyahu for "the continuation of the aggression and the expansion of the circle of conflict, and sabotaging the efforts made through the mediators and various parties".
Netanyahu's cabinet voted unanimously to close Qatari television network Al Jazeera's operations in Israel, according to a government statement. The statement did not specify when the closure would take place. The cabinet vote came after Israel's parliament passed a law allowing the temporary closure in Israel of foreign broadcasters considered to be a threat to national security during the war in Gaza.
A local official in southern Lebanon said an Israeli strike on a village on Sunday killed a couple and their child, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported. "The dad, the mother and their little son were martyred", according to the Mays al-Jabal municipality chief Abdelmoneim Chukair. Lebanon's state-run National news agency said the strike killed "three civilians" and injured several others.
At least 34,683 Palestinian people have been killed and 78,018 injured in Israeli strikes on Gaza since 7 October, the Gaza health ministry said in a statement.
Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has hardened his rejection of Hamas demands for an end to the Gaza war in exchange for the freeing of hostages, saying that would keep the Palestinian militant group in power and pose a threat to Israel's security.
Netanyahu said:
But while Israel has shown willingness, Hamas remains entrenched in its extreme positions, first among them the demand to remove all our forces from the Gaza Strip, end the war, and leave Hamas in power. Israel cannot accept that.
Hamas would be able to achieve its promise of carrying out again and again and again its massacres, rapes and kidnapping.
Netanyahu did, however, say that Israel was willing to pause fighting in Gaza in order to secure the release of hostages still being held by Hamas, believed to number more than 130. The statement came as a Hamas delegation met with mediators in Egypt for talks on a possible truce deal in the war.
Negotiators have consistently struggled to reconcile Hamas's demand for a lasting ceasefire which would allow the militant group to claim a victory, with the apparent determination of Netanyahu to force Hamas from power, kill or capture its leadership and destroy all its military capabilities.
Amid the truce talks, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said the Palestinian militant group was keen on reaching a comprehensive ceasefire that would end Israeli "aggression", guarantee Israel's withdrawal from Gaza, and achieve a serious hostage-swap deal.
Haniyeh, in his statement, blamed Netanyahu for "the continuation of the aggression and the expansion of the circle of conflict, and sabotaging the efforts made through the mediators and various parties".
In the tented camps and crowded streets of Rafah, the pro-Palestine campus protests in the US have been followed closely.
"We hear a lot of news about students' demonstrations in American universities … When I saw that, I was very happy that there are still those who stand beside us and in support of us," said Nevin Abu Shahma, 39, who fled to Rafah from northern Gaza early in the war.
Pro-Palestine protests that have fanned across US universities for weeks are now more muted after a series of clashes with police, mass arrests and a stern White House directive to restore order.
But similar demonstrations have spread in some form to campuses in Britain, France, Australia and elsewhere, and on Saturday students waved Palestinian flags and chanted anti-war slogans during a ceremony at the University of Michigan.
You can read the full story by Malak A Tantesh here:
Faisal Ali
In a pre-recorded report, Al Jazeera correspondent Imran Khan added a bit of detail about what Israel's ban on the channel would mean.
Khan said Al Jazeera's website would be banned, "including anything that has the option of entering or accessing the website" and "any device used for providing content", which would include mobile phones of their staff members.
"If I use that for any kind of news gathering, then the Israelis can simply confiscate it."
He added that the website's internet provider could also be targeted for possible fines if it hosts site and all offices in Israel would also have to shutdown.
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