Al Jazeera’s television broadcast in Israel was cut todayafter the government’s decision to “shut down” the television network in the country and confiscate its equipment, as reported by AFP journalists in Jerusalem.

Al Jazeera shows a message in Arabic and English on a black background that says: “According to the government’s decision, the transmission of the Al Jazeera network has been suspended in Israel.”

The network’s web sites remain accessible via the Israeli mobile network.

Earlier, Al Jazeera condemned the Israeli government’s decision to close its office in Israel, calling it a “criminal act”.

“We condemn this criminal action by Israel that violates the human right to access information,” Al Jazeera said in Arabic in a post on social media X.

Israel’s cabinet under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided today to suspend Al Jazeera in Israel while the war in Gaza continues, arguing that the Qatari broadcaster poses a threat to national security.

Al Jazeera in Arabic and Al Jazeera in English show a message on a black background that says: “According to the government’s decision, the transmission of the Al Jazeera network has been suspended in Israel.”

The Israeli police raided in a Jerusalem hotel room used by Al Jazeera as its de facto office, following the government’s decision to suspend operations in the country.

Video released online show plainclothes police dismantling camera equipment in a hotel room. Al Jazeera’s source said the hotel is located in East Jerusalem.

The law allows Netanyahu and his cabinet to close the network’s offices in Israel for 45 days, renewable period so that it remains in force until the end of July or until the end of major military operations in Gaza.

Qatar, home to several Hamas political leaders, is trying to broker a ceasefire and hostage release deal that could end the war in Gaza.