Israel’s Security Cabinet has approved new rules that would let the government shut down foreign news television channels deemed a threat to national security, as the country continues its conflict with the Palestinian movement Hamas.
The decision followed repeated appeals by Communications Minister Shlomo Karai to halt broadcasts from the Lebanese channel Al Mayadeen and the Qatari network Al Jazeera inside Israel.
Karai argued that Qatar-based channels provide information support to Hamas and increase the risk of strikes on Israeli forces operating near Gaza. He also said Al Mayadeen serves the Lebanese group Hezbollah and could function as one of its operational arms backed by Iran.
The fighting intensified after thousands of Hamas militants crossed into Israel from the Gaza Strip on October 7, when Hamas announced the start of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood. In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country is at war.
The stated objective of Israel’s response to Operation Iron Sword was to repel the assault, rescue more than 200 hostages including foreigners, and dismantle Hamas. To pursue this aim, Israel carried out large-scale rocket strikes on Gaza from the outset. The National Security Council also decided to cut off water, food, goods, electricity, and fuel to the territory. Humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza began through the Rafah crossing only after October 20, and organizers said the aid volume was insufficient.
On October 27, Israel announced an expansion of its ground operation in Gaza. The exact start date of the operation remained unclear, but prior to it hundreds of thousands of Palestinians had fled their homes to shelters in the south. By November 5, as the ground operation progressed, IDF forces had surrounded Gaza City and cut off supplies in central Gaza, while fighting continued in other areas.
Hollywood actors later sent a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden urging him to halt fire in Israel and Gaza.