Philippine Journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio Convicted on Terrorism Financing Charge
January 26, 2026
Qatar Media Sector Expands Professional Training Initiatives for 2026
January 26, 2026
January 26, 2026 – Qatar –
The Israeli government has renewed and expanded its measures against the Qatar-based Al Jazeera Media Network, extending a ban on the network’s operations inside the country for a further 90 days and broadening restrictions to digital platforms and online access. The decision was announced at the end of January 2026 under legislation that allows authorities to block foreign broadcasters considered a threat to national security.
The ban, first implemented in May 2024 at the height of Israel’s offensive in Gaza, originally prohibited Al Jazeera’s television broadcasts and led to the closure of the network’s offices in Israel and the occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces raided the Ramallah bureau and seized equipment. The latest order, signed by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, prohibits Israeli internet service providers, broadcasters, and platforms like YouTube from carrying Al Jazeera’s content and extends similar restrictions to the Lebanon-based channel Al-Mayadeen.
The policy stems from what is informally known as the “Al Jazeera law,” legislation passed by the Israeli parliament that empowers the communications minister to suspend foreign media operations if they are judged to harm state security. Recent amendments allow such measures to be enacted even without a formal state of emergency, granting broader authority to block broadcasts, seize equipment, and shut down media outlets deemed hostile.
Israeli officials have repeatedly framed their actions as necessary to counter what they describe as security threats posed by the network’s reporting, which has been sharply critical of Israeli military actions, particularly in Gaza. Al Jazeera has denied the allegations and condemned the ban as an attack on press freedom and independent journalism, asserting that the measures violate international norms and humanitarian law. The network has also signaled it may pursue legal challenges.
Human rights groups and press freedom organisations have criticised the ban and its extension as part of a broader pattern of media suppression, arguing that limiting access to independent reporting curtails free speech and inhibits transparent coverage of conflict and political developments. Critics say the expanded restrictions contribute to an environment where public understanding is shaped by selective access rather than independent verification of events on the ground.
The move comes amid continuing regional tensions and reflects broader debates over media access, national security, and civil liberties in contexts of prolonged conflict.
Reference –
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/1/25/israel-extends-ban-on-al-jazeeras-operations-by-90-days
https://www.journalismpakistan.com/israel-extends-al-jazeera-ban-another-90-days
