Israel revokes press credentials of Al Jazeera journalists

Israel announced on Thursday that it was revoking the press credentials of Al Jazeera journalists working in Israel, months after it placed a ban on the Qatari media network.

"This is a media outlet that disseminates false content, which includes incitement against Israelis and Jews, and constitutes a threat to (Israeli) soldiers," the Israeli government press office said in a statement.

An Israeli official told AFP that currently, the decision was to be applied to four full-time Al Jazeera journalists with Israeli citizenship.

According to the official, other Al Jazeera staff in the country, mainly video producers and photographers, will continue to have their Israeli press cards as the government does not consider them to be actively producing content.  

While it is not mandatory to have a Government Press Office card, without it, journalists find it almost impossible to report as they have little to no access to parliament, military infrastructure or government ministries.

Al Jazeera's bureau chief for the Palestinian territories, Walid Omary, told AFP that the network had not been informed of the latest Israeli decision.

Omary said that 14 Al Jazeera staff members, all Israeli citizens, currently hold Israeli government press cards.

Israeli has repeatedly claimed that journalists working for Al Jazeera are "terrorist agents" or are affiliated with Hamas.

Al Jazeera has denied the accusations, highlighting that Israel continues to target their journalists and employees. At least two of their journalists have been killed since the war in Gaza started on 7 October.

The Israeli parliament passed a law in early April allowing the banning of foreign media broadcasts deemed harmful to state security, listing Al Jazeera.

Israel’s Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi hit out at the network in May, saying: "There will be no freedom of speech for the Hamas trumpets in Israel".

"Al Jazeera will be closed immediately, and the equipment will be confiscated," he continued.