The United Nations (UN) has underscored the importance of press freedom following Israel’s decision to shut down the Al Jazeera network’s office in the country.
UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, speaking from New York, expressed strong opposition to any actions that impede media freedom, stating, “We firmly stand against any decisions that curb press freedom.
“A free press provides invaluable services in ensuring that the public has access to information and can participate in it,” the UN official added.
The move comes after the Israeli parliament passed a new media law, widely referred to as the “Al Jazeera Law,” which allows the government to ban foreign broadcasting stations if deemed a security threat to Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that his government had unanimously voted in favour of closing Al Jazeera‘s operations in Israel.
Al Jazeera has condemned the Israeli decision and pledged to use “all available means” to protect its rights and those of its staff.
It emphasized its commitment to professional journalistic standards and pledged to pursue legal and international avenues to protect the public’s right to information.
This development has raised significant international concerns about media freedom and its implications for news organizations operating in politically sensitive regions.
