By Ahmed Asmar
ANKARA (AA) - Al Jazeera television on Tuesday accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of inciting against its journalists, condemning his accusations against the media outlet as “lies.”
The Knesset (Israel’s parliament) passed a law on Monday allowing the closure of the Qatari-funded television.
Netanyahu said in a statement on X that he intended “to act immediately in accordance with the new law” to stop the news outlet’s activity in Israel.
“Netanyahu could not find any justifications to offer the world for his ongoing attacks on Al Jazeera and press freedom except to present new lies and inflammatory slanders against the Network and the rights of its employees,” the Doha-based television said in a statement.
In his statement, Netanyahu accused Al Jazeera of being a trumpet for Hamas and accused it of “actively participating” in the Oct. 7 Hamas attack and inciting against Israeli soldiers.
But the pan-Arab television condemned Netanyahu’s accusations as “dangerous ludicrous lies” and held the Israeli prime minister responsible for the safety of its staff and premises around the world “following his incitement and this false accusation in a disgraceful manner”.
“Al Jazeera reiterates that such slanderous accusations will not deter us from continuing our bold and professional coverage, and reserves the right to pursue every legal step,” it added.
Al Jazeera has an office in Israel and a team of correspondents working year-round, including covering Israel's ongoing war on the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 32,900 people since Oct. 7, 2023.