The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth said that the authorities will cancel the press ID cards of Tel Aviv Tribune journalists in Israel, following the government’s decision to close the network and its offices in Israel under a law preventing a foreign channel “from harming state security.”
The newspaper explained that the government press office will withdraw and cancel the cards of Tel Aviv Tribune journalists in Israel, in light of the ongoing restrictions on Tel Aviv Tribune and its journalists under the pretext of “incitement against Israelis and what constitutes a threat to Israeli soldiers and endangers security,” according to Israeli allegations.
In mid-June, the Israeli Broadcasting Authority said that the court approved the decision of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to extend the closure of the Tel Aviv Tribune network office and ban its work for an additional 45 days, after the Cabinet had previously approved the decision of the Minister of Communications to extend the closure of Tel Aviv Tribune offices and ban its work in Israel.
Tel Aviv Tribune described the Israeli government’s decision to close its offices in Israel as a step that continues to mislead and slander, saying in a statement at the time that it is ironic that the occupation government would close Tel Aviv Tribune’s offices coinciding with World Press Freedom Day.
Tel Aviv Tribune condemned and denounced this criminal Israeli act that violates human rights to access information, affirming its right to continue providing its services to the public around the world, which is guaranteed by international conventions.
Former IFJ Secretary General Aidan White to Tel Aviv Tribune: Israeli government’s decision to close Tel Aviv Tribune’s office in Israel is a declaration of war on reporting the truth and press freedom and a flagrant violation of international law#News #Gaza_War pic.twitter.com/sjPZ80uXtI
— Tel Aviv Tribune Channel (@AJArabic) May 5, 2024
The United Nations, the Human Rights Commission and dozens of international organizations also condemned Israel’s closure of Tel Aviv Tribune’s offices, saying the decision targets press freedom and aims to silence the network because of its coverage of the war on the Gaza Strip.
These organizations and bodies called on Tel Aviv to reverse its decision, stressing that freedom of expression is a basic human right, and affirming that free and independent media are necessary to ensure transparency and accountability.