Date:5 May 2024
Press Release
The International Commission “Hashd” Condemns Occupying Government’s Decision to Close Al Jazeera Offices, Deeming it a Clear Violation of Press Freedom
The International Commission for Palestinian Rights “Hashd” condemns and denounces the decision of the Israeli occupation government to close the offices of Al Jazeera Arabic and Al Jazeera English in the territories of 1948 and Jerusalem. The decision was made today, Sunday, May 5th, 2024, by the Israeli occupation government, based on a racist law passed by the Knesset last month, dubbed the “Al Jazeera Law.” Following this decision, the army and police forces seized equipment, closed the offices, and restricted access to its website. Since the start of the ongoing Israeli genocide and aggression against Gaza, Al Jazeera has faced fierce attacks and high-level incitement, accusing it of supporting terrorism. This has accompanied a systematic campaign against media outlets and journalists to prevent media coverage and document the crimes of the Israeli occupation. As a result, Al Mayadeen channel was closed, and journalists and international media institutions were prevented from entering Gaza.
It’s worth noting that this decision comes simultaneously with World Press Freedom Day, indicating the danger faced by journalists and media institutions by the Israeli occupation forces, especially in Gaza. The ongoing genocide war has resulted, until now, in the martyrdom of 147 journalists, the destruction of more than 259 media headquarters, and the arrest of 50 journalists, as part of the Israeli state’s plans and policies to silence the voice of truth, obscure the image, and halt and hinder the ability of journalists to document and report the genocide crimes against the Palestinian people since October 7th, 2023.
The International Commission “Hashd” renews its condemnation of the systematic targeting by the Israeli occupation of journalism and media workers, expressing solidarity with Al Jazeera and its media team. It warns against the continued failure of the international community to protect Palestinians and journalists. It asserts that the decision to close Al Jazeera and, before it, Al Mayadeen, and the war crimes against journalists, constitute a flagrant and blatant violation of all principles of international humanitarian law and international human rights conventions that guarantee press freedom. It fears that the decision could be a prelude to expanding the circle of violations and ongoing Israeli genocide and aggression in the occupied Palestinian territories. It expresses concern for the lives of journalists and media workers. Therefore, it registers the following:
- The International Commission “Hashd”: calls on international institutions and high contracting parties to the Geneva Conventions to pressure the occupation government to end the genocide war, stop the crimes of targeting journalists and media institutions, ensuring media freedoms and freedom of expression.
- The International Commission “Hashd”: urges the Human Rights Council, the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and the International Federation of Journalists to intervene immediately to protect media institutions and journalists in Palestine, hold perpetrators of violations against Palestinians, especially journalists, accountable, and ensure respect for media freedoms.
End
The International Commission to Support Palestinians Rights (Hashd)
