Israeli police have raided a studio in Nazareth linked to Al Jazeera, the latest in a series of clashes between the country and the broadcaster. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi claimed the studio was being used by Al Jazeera to broadcast content supporting Hamas, and announced that equipment was being confiscated.
The raid comes after Israeli police targeted one of Al Jazeera's offices in occupied East Jerusalem on Sunday, and follows a deterioration in relations between the broadcaster and the Israeli government since the outbreak of war in Gaza.
Al Jazeera has denied any links to Hamas and condemned the raids as a violation of press freedom and human rights. The broadcaster has been one of the few sources of reporting from Gaza, with foreign journalists banned from entering the strip.
The Israeli government has accused Al Jazeera of violating professional media standards and has moved to shut down its operations in the country. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the closure of Al Jazeera's offices in Israel, citing the ongoing war in Gaza.
The raids have sparked international condemnation, with many seeing them as an attack on press freedom. Al Jazeera has accused Israel of "ongoing suppression" of the free press, which it says violates international and humanitarian law.
The conflict in Gaza has resulted in significant loss of life, with over 34,780 people killed since the war began, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claims it only targets militants, but has faced criticism for the number of civilian casualties, including journalists.
The raids on Al Jazeera's offices are seen as part of a broader crackdown on press freedom in Israel, with many journalists and media outlets facing harassment and intimidation. The incident has raised concerns about the ability of journalists to report freely and safely in the region.
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