Skip next section Al Jazeera TV goes off air in Israel
05/05/2024May 5, 2024
Al Jazeera TV goes off air in Israel
Israeli TV satellite and cable providers have suspended Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera from the airwaves.
“In accordance with the government decision, the Al Jazeera station’s broadcasts have been stopped in Israel,” said a message on Israel’s satellite television provider, Yes.
The Israeli government on Sunday, after a law passed by the Israeli Knesset last month allowed it to shutter foreign broadcasters considered to pose a security threat amid the .
Israel has opposed Al Jazeera for years, claiming it broadcasts biased coverage of conflicts.
Al Jazeera has condemned the Israel government decision, saying in a statement that, “The Netanyahu government has decided in a highly misleading and calumnious step to endorse the order to shut down Al Jazeera offices in Israel.”
“We confirm that we will pursue all avenues at international and legal organizations to protect our rights and crews,” it said without elaborating.
https://p.dw.com/p/4fWR9
Skip next section Lebanon says 4 killed in Israeli strike on border town
05/05/2024May 5, 2024
Lebanon says 4 killed in Israeli strike on border town
At least four people have been killed as a result of an Israeli airstrike in , Lebanon’s state-run NNA news has reported.
The airstrike hit the town of Meiss el Jabal, near the border with Israel, NNA said in the report.
Israel has not commented on the attack.
Lebanon-based militant group said it had fired “dozens” of rockets at an Israeli town close to the border in retaliation.
Hezbollah and Israel have traded fire across the Israel-Lebanon border ever since the war in began in October, but both sides have pulled back from an all-out escalation of hostilities.
More than 300 people in Lebanon, including at least 70 civilians, have been killed as a result of the the cross-border violence since October, according to security sources.
Meanwhile, Israeli sources say around a dozen troops and several civilians have been killed on Israel’s side of the border.
https://p.dw.com/p/4fWQJ
Skip next section Israel closes Kerem Shalom border crossing after shelling
05/05/2024May 5, 2024
Israel closes Kerem Shalom border crossing after shelling
The armed wing of claimed responsibility for firing rockets at the area around the Kerem Shalom border crossing in southern on Sunday, saying it had been targeting Israeli troops.
In response, Israel said it was closing the crossing which is located close to the border with and is one of the few left open for essential humanitarian aid.
“Approximately 10 projectile launches were identified crossing from the area adjacent to the Rafah Crossing toward the area of Kerem Shalom,” the army said in a statement, adding that the “Kerem Shalom Crossing is currently closed to the passage of humanitarian aid trucks.”
https://p.dw.com/p/4fWKc
Skip next section Israel will agree truce, but not end of war, Netanyahu says
05/05/2024May 5, 2024
Israel will agree truce, but not end of war, Netanyahu says
Israeli Prime Minister has reiterated that Israel will not meet demands by Hamas for an end to in exchange for the freeing of Israeli hostages held by the militant Islamist group.
Netanyahu said Israel would continue to fight until it achieves its war aim, which he has previously said is to “crush and destroy Hamas.”
He said a complete cessation of the war would keep the group in power and pose a threat to Israel, but that Israel was ready to pause its offensive to allow the release of hostages.
Negotiations are currently underway in Cairo between Hamas and a group of international mediators to establish a 40-day truce and allow an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinians held prisoner by Israel.
Hamas is considered a terrorist organization by Israel, Germany, the US and several other countries.
https://p.dw.com/p/4fWIh
Skip next section Israeli government to shut down Al Jazeera in Israel
05/05/2024May 5, 2024
Israeli government to shut down Al Jazeera in Israel
The Israeli Cabinet has voted unanimously Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday.
Announcing the decision on X, formerly Twitter, Netanyahu accused the broadcaster of incitement.
Also on X, Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi said the order would take immediate effect.
According to Israeli media, the order can suspend broadcasting in the country for 45 days.
Ties between Israel and the broadcaster have worsened since Israel launched an offensive against the Islamist militant group Hamas in response to Hamas’ deadly attacks in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which some 1,200 people were killed.
Numerous journalists have been killed in Gaza during Israel’s military offensive, including several who worked for Al Jazeera.
Qatar is one of the countries mediating in negotiations over a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which is considered a terrorist organization by Israel, Germany, the US and several other countries.
https://p.dw.com/p/4fWHD
Skip next section Talks on Gaza truce deal to resume in Egypt
05/05/2024May 5, 2024
Talks on Gaza truce deal to resume in Egypt
A delegation from the Palestinian militant group is expected to meet with Qatari, Egyptian and US mediators on Sunday in a bid to strike a deal on a truce in amid the .
Negotiators have been discussing a proposal for a 40-day pause in fighting and an exchange of hostages held by Hamas for Palestinians held in Israeli jails, according to details made public by Britain.
has so far sent no delegation to the talks in Cairo, with an Israeli official telling the AFP news agency it would do so only if there was “positive movement.”
Up to now, both sides have accused each other of blocking a deal.
Hamas has said it will not agree to any truce that does not include a complete end to the war and Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
Israel has refused to guarantee an end to its offensive, launched after Hamas carried out attacks in southern Israel on October 7 in which some 1,200 Israelis were killed and 250 taken hostage. Israel, the United States and Germany are among the countries that have designated Hamas as a terrorist organization.
In November, 105 of the hostages were released in exchange for Palestinians held by Israel during a weeklong cease-fire. Since then, negotiations have failed to produce any lasting truce.
It is unclear how many of the Israelis remaining in captivity are still alive.
https://p.dw.com/p/4fW2n
Skip next section Israel says Islamic Jihad leader killed in strike
05/05/2024May 5, 2024
Israel says Islamic Jihad leader killed in strike
The Israeli military has said a leader of the militant Islamic Jihad organization who was involved in a deadly raid on Israel on October 7 has been killed in an airstrike in southern Gaza.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Aiman Zaarab was responsible for an attack by the Islamic Jihad Rafah Brigade on the kibbutz of Sufa and a military post during the raid.
The IDF added that “two additional Islamic Jihad terrorists” were killed in the strike alongside Zaarab.
tj/sms (AP, AFP, DPA, Reuters)
https://p.dw.com/p/4fW2t
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