The Al Jazeera Media Network rejected the Israeli Army's accusations against six of its journalists in the Gaza Strip, labeling them as "agents of the military wing" of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. In a statement, the Qatari network described these accusations as "fabricated" and stated that they aim to silence the few journalists remaining in the region.
Al Jazeera condemned Israel's unfounded accusations, which it considers an attempt to coerce its reporters. The network highlighted that the accusations arose after they reported possible war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza, being the only international media documenting the humanitarian crisis in the area. It emphasized that its journalists are fulfilling their professional duty and rejected being labeled as terrorists.
Israel justified the accusations by claiming that documents found in the possession of the journalists demonstrated their connection to terrorist organizations. These accusations are part of an offensive by Israeli troops in the northern Gaza Strip that has resulted in a high number of casualties, injuries, and displaced persons, according to UN reports.
Al Jazeera also reported that Israel is preventing the urgent medical evacuation of two of its journalists who were severely injured in recent attacks in Gaza. The Qatari network has faced prohibitions in Israel since April and the closure of its office in Ramallah, West Bank, following accusations of being a danger to national security.
The closure of Al Jazeera's office in Ramallah has drawn criticism from organizations such as Amnesty International, which accused Israel of attacking freedom of expression and the press. Al Jazeera, one of the few channels with a presence in Gaza, has been targeted by Israel amid the escalation of violence in the region, where access for international media has been restricted.
