The Israeli government has approved regulations that grant it the authority to temporarily shut down foreign news channels during the state of emergency caused by the ongoing war with Hamas. The move specifically targets Al Jazeera, a Qatari-owned news outlet that is accused of damaging national security.

The approval of these regulations was led by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, who believes that Al Jazeera's broadcasts have been detrimental to the security of the state since the war began. The retroactive nature of the regulations means that past broadcasts by Al Jazeera, starting from the Hamas atrocities on October 7 and the declaration of the state of emergency, can now be used as grounds to shut down the pro-Palestinian news outlet.

The proposal to shut down Al Jazeera will be presented to the security cabinet for approval, as required by the regulations. Minister Karhi emphasized the importance of protecting the state's security in the face of ongoing conflict, stating, "Israel is at war on land, in the air, at sea, and on the public diplomacy front. We will not allow in any way broadcasts that harm the security of the state."

According to Karhi's office, Al Jazeera's broadcasts and reports are considered as incitement against Israel, providing support to Hamas and other terror organizations by disseminating propaganda and encouraging violence. The communications minister, known for his hardline stance within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, accuses Al Jazeera of assisting the enemy and even passing sensitive information to them.

In response to these allegations, Al Jazeera has denied any wrongdoing and refutes the claims brought against them by the Israeli government.

Under the new regulations, the communications minister can order the closure of foreign media outlets during a state of emergency, but this decision requires the agreement of the defense minister and the approval of the security cabinet. The order may include directives to TV providers to cease broadcasting the news outlet, close down its offices in Israel, seize its equipment, and restrict or shut down its website based on the server's location.

Furthermore, the decision to shut down a news outlet must be approved by the security cabinet, rely on legal opinions from security establishments demonstrating harm to national security, and be subject to examination by a district court. The court will have three days to issue a ruling on the decision, either approving or annulling the order. The initial decision will remain valid for 30 days, with the option for extensions in 30-day increments. The emergency regulations are slated to remain in effect for three months or until the state of emergency is officially declared over by the government.

Earlier this week, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara insisted on revisions to the proposed regulations to ensure that the closure of foreign news outlets would require the consent of the defense minister and be subject to immediate judicial review by the courts. Reports also suggested that an earlier version of the regulations granted the communications minister broad powers over all media outlets, including domestic ones, with the ability to order the arrest of reporters and other individuals involved in broadcasts that harm state security. Minister Karhi vehemently denied any intention to implement such measures.

As the Israeli government takes steps to address perceived threats to national security during the ongoing conflict, the media landscape in the country remains in flux. The decision to shut down foreign news channels, particularly Al Jazeera, has raised concerns about press freedom and the ability of the public to access diverse sources of information.