Israel’s Al Jazeera ban violates freedom of expression - SAFTU
The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) says Israel's decision to ban the Al Jazeera news channel infringes on the rights of Palestinians.
The Qatar-based station was taken off air in Israel after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government voted on Sunday to shut it down over its coverage of the Gaza war.
The ban reportedly includes shutting Al Jazeera feeds from broadcast and preventing Al Jazeera journalists from gathering and reporting stories in Israeli-occupied territories.
SAFTU's spokesperson, Trevor Shaku, said the ban violates the right to freedom of expression.
"Already, between 7 October 2023 and 8 May 2024, 142 Palestinian journalists have been murdered by Israel, 80 have been injured (in many cases seriously) and 12 arrested. 178 media house offices have been bombed to the ground and destroyed.
"This subsequent ban will embolden settlers to carry out the persecution and dispossession under cover of media absence.
"Further, the Israeli Zionist regime is clearly disturbed by the coverage that has exposed the genocidal deeds they have carried out since the 8th of October 2024. It is the exposure of the genocidal campaign in visuals, audio, and texts that is awakening the youth in Western countries, particularly the USA," he said.
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