Temporary ban on Al Jazeera in Israel is also a ban on victims to communicate to outside world

Truth of Conflicts and wars can never reach to public, if there is improper or no media channel. Vietnam war was the first televised one, that disclosed actuality of combat area, conventional stories, number of deaths, injuries and destruction. That proximity to the battle zone has life threatening risk, and also questions extremity of journalism. More than 60 journalists were killed at the time of Vietnam war. However, as per the available information, journalists spent most of their time at Ho Chi Minh City, a South Vietnamese capital and made Joint U.S Public Affairs Office’s daily briefings, as their source, to avoid any unfortunate circumstances. Similarly, media channels have been very actively covering Russia-Ukraine war or Israel-Gaza. Horrific visuals and relevant information coming through journalists are becoming base of several international investigations and debates. While, social media users sharing their opinions by posting and reposting, state actors are diplomatically silent.

Unlike, Vietnam war, after being televised it was considered as an evolution of media industry, Israel has forcibly shut Al Jazeera offices in the country, if it becomes a threat to security. Earlier, Israel’s government unanimously voted to shut down Al Jazeera network for 45 days, with a law passed that includes temporary ban on foreign media outlets estimating them as a threat to national security. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated his intentions. Addressing press conference, he said, ‘Al Jazeera’s journalists have harmed Israeli security and incited against IDF soldiers’, quotes The Times of Israel. Israel’s Minister of Communication, Shlomo Karhi passed a statement after signing the orders, ‘Too much time has passed and there have been too many unnecessary legal hurdles in order to finally stop the well-oiled incitement machine of Al Jazeera, which harms national security. We will act immediately against those who use freedom of the press to harm Israeli security and IDF troops, and incite to terrorism at a time of war’, quoted The Times of Israel.
Al Jazeera has issued a long statement condemning country’s action, and called it ‘criminal act’, ‘violation of human rights and basic rights’ and that it is a ‘repeated attacks on journalists and the press by Israel’, after the law passed. According to the law, Al Jazeera’s reporters will not be able to report from Israel or occupied East Jerusalem. Simultaneously, their offices are shut and equipment are confiscated, all under government orders. Even though, access to the website is banned in the country, the media organization is smoothly working in neighboring countries.

Pranshu, an independent journalist consider journalism an easy target. He said, ‘Solution to every problem, is to shut media people. During protests, they call for internet shutdown, amid wars, media channels are banned. State actors are aware about the power media holds. And so, they try to suppress the agency. But it is also encouraging, when I see people writing their opinions in a blog, or on social media platforms, it empowers journalism. It uplifts the defeated souls of reporters, who are let down by decision makers.’ He also added, that one of the reasons he chose path of freelancing is to work freely and not under pressure of any restrictions. Al Jazeera hasn’t stopped publishing news over Israel-Gaza war, despite facing biggest hurdle. On asking, what could be immediate effects of this ban over media organization or over their distribution of news, Pranshu told EAT news, ‘Offices are closed and reporters are also not broadcasting live footages or even recorded ones, of recent bombings or violence. The ban has affected media outlet, but commonly reporters do have their sources in different places that informs them with on field details. That is the reason, website is able to give its readers, constant recent developments on Israel and Gaza without any obstacles’.

Violation of human rights and basic rights, is what Al Jazeera blamed Israel for, after the law passed. The official statement also accused Israel of targeting and killing journalists, arresting them and that more than 140 reporters have been killed, since the beginning of war. ‘As of May 7, 2024, CPJ’s preliminary investigations showed at least 97 journalists and media workers were among the more than 35,000 killed since the war began on October 7 – with more than 34,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza and the West Bank and 1,200 deaths in Israel’, quoted CPJ (Committee to Protect Journalists). According to Pranshu, this war has witnessed number of innocent deaths, since it started. And we are able to discuss or conduct debates over it, because of timely news world is receiving. ‘It is violation of human rights and basic rights, no denying to it. People suffering in war have right to live and journalists have right to communicate and express the facts. Journalism is single bridge that is mediating rights of victims and communicating their grief and demands, accurately’, said Pranshu.