GAZA, (The Palestine Foundation Pakistan)
Ezzat al-Resheq, a member of the Political Bureau of the Hamas Movement, stated that the Israeli Knesset’s vote on a bill allowing the Israeli government to shut down foreign media outlets without prior judicial approval constitutes a direct threat to press freedom and solidifies a policy of silencing voices. The intent, he said, is to hide the truth about the crimes and violations committed against the Palestinian people.
In a press statement on Tuesday, Resheq explained that what Israel labels as “content harmful to state security” is, in fact, coverage that exposes the crimes of killing, displacement, settlement expansion, Judaization, and home demolitions. He added that preventing foreign media from reporting is a deliberate attempt to conceal these crimes from the world.
Resheq called on governments, international rights organizations, and civil society groups to act urgently and pressure for the repeal of this legislation, which he described as a clear signal of Israel’s intention to escalate its crimes against Palestinians.
He also appealed to international media institutions and press unions to unite in demanding that Israel allow global journalists access to the occupied Palestinian territories and to report the truth professionally and objectively. “The triumph of truth is a victory for the justice of the Palestinian cause,” he affirmed.
On Monday evening, the Israeli Knesset’s General Assembly passed the first reading of the bill that allows the government to shut down any foreign media outlet deemed “harmful to state security.” The bill seeks to transform what was a temporary emergency measure into a permanent law, expanding the powers of the Communications Minister with no judicial oversight.
The proposal was submitted by Likud party member Ariel Kallner and passed with 50 votes in favor and 41 against. It was referred back to the National Security Committee for further discussion before being presented for a second and third vote.
