Amid escalating tensions with Qatar over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet voted unanimously on Sunday to close Qatari television network Al-Jazeera's operations in Israel, according to a government statement. The statement did not specify when the decision might take effect. The network condemned the move to shutter its operations in the country, calls action "criminal."
The move comes after Israel's parliament recently passed a law allowing the temporary closure of foreign broadcasters considered a threat to national security during the ongoing war against Hamas.
Qatar, which funds Hamas, has been accused by Israel of inflaming the conflict through Al-Jazeera's coverage, which Israel views as being sympathetic to Hamas. Al-Jazeera has denied any bias and vowed to maintain its reporting from the region.
Israel's decision to shutter Al-Jazeera's Israel offices signals a hardening stance against Qatar amid the continuing fighting with Hamas. However, it remains unclear exactly when and how the closure of Al-Jazeera's operations will be implemented.
