Israel Orders Closure of Al Jazeera Offices
Israel has ordered the local offices of Qatar’s Al Jazeera satellite news network to close, escalating tensions between the broadcaster and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
Background
The feud between Al Jazeera and the Israeli government has been long-running, with the latest development coming as Doha-mediated cease-fire negotiations with Hamas are at a critical stage.
Details of the Order
The order includes the closure of the local offices, confiscation of broadcast equipment, prevention of channel reports’ broadcast, and blocking of its websites. This move is unprecedented, marking the first time Israel has taken such action against a foreign news outlet.
