The Israeli government pursues extending the contentious ban on Al Jazeera as the high court deliberates over objections toward the media legislation.
In May, Israel banned the Qatar-based news channel Al Jazeera from operating in the country for 45 days under a new law allowing the government to ban foreign media organizations deemed harmful to Israel's security. Al Jazeera called this action "a dark day for democracy" and a worrying precedent for other international media operating in Israel.
Though temporary, the ban could be extended in 45-day periods. Tuesday saw a court ruling that the Al Jazeera ban could continue but would only last 35 days, ending on Sunday. Al Jazeera was notified on Wednesday that the Israeli Ministry of Communications plans to request another 45-day ban.
On the grounds that Al Jazeera endangers Israeli security and has close ties to Hamas, the militant group it is at war with in Gaza, Israel enacted the ban.
Netanyahu said last month that Al Jazeera's reporters "harmed Israel's security" and "incited against IDF soldiers."
A Tel Aviv District Court judge, who has not disclosed the evidence provided by the government, said Tuesday he had been shown proof of these claims.
Walid Omary, Al Jazeera's Jerusalem bureau chief, told CNN his sentiment was "cynicism, sarcasm, and contempt for the court’s decision, and we reject all accusations and excuses."
Back in May, Israeli authorities raided Al Jazeera's offices in Jerusalem, shutting down their operations, seizing their equipment, and blocking their website. Israeli authorities also seized equipment belonging to the Associated Press that was being used to broadcast the Gaza skyline, claiming the broadcast was for Al Jazeera and posed a risk to Israeli troops. The equipment was returned hours later, and the live shot resumed.
Al Jazeera, providing live coverage from within the blockaded Gaza Strip, denied Israel's accusations, calling them "dangerous and ridiculous." At least six of its staff members were killed in Gaza during the war.
On Monday, Israel's Supreme Court heard challenges to the law, with the rights group Adalah claiming it violates freedoms of expression, information, and the press in Israel.
Justice Yitzhak Amit, the head of the panel of judges, acknowledged during the hearing that the law infringes on freedom of expression. It is unknown when the high court will rule on the law.
In the same time frame, there were raids on Al Jazeera's Jerusalem office. The government shut down their operations, seized their equipment, and blocked their website. Although the seizure of the Associated Press equipment was later returned, the ban on the Qatari-based news network remained. The Gaza office of the news organization suffered continuous attacks, with at least six of its staff members killed since the beginning of the conflict.
The Israeli government accuses Al Jazeera of endangering the nation's security due to its alleged close ties to Hamas, a militant group with which they are engaged in warfare in Gaza. Netanyahu declared, "Al Jazeera reporters harmed Israel's security and incited against IDF soldiers. It is time to expel the mouthpiece of Hamas from our country."
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In response to the court's decision, Al Jazeera might challenge the extension of the ban in the high court. The Israeli business community, known for its interactions with international media, may voiced their concerns regarding the impact of the media ban on their relationships.
