Israel shuts down five Palestinian media sites in Jerusalem

Defense minister says platforms served as Hamas propaganda and incited violence.

By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News

Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the closure Sunday of five Palestinian media outlets operating in Jerusalem, citing alleged links to Hamas.

The five websites and digital platforms are the Al-Asima News Network, Al-Quds Compass, Maydan al-Quds, Miraj Network and Quds Plus.

They primarily post their reports, videos and photographs on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Telegram and WhatsApp.

Much of their coverage focuses on clashes between Arab residents and Israeli police or Jewish residents, as well as protests in and around Jerusalem’s Old City.

According to Channel 12, the Israeli Security Agency (Shin Bet) recently asked that the networks be designated terrorist organizations under Israel’s Counter-Terrorism Law, arguing they function as Hamas propaganda.

The closure order states that “These platforms are used by Hamas to convey messages, stir up unrest, and incite violence and terrorism, with an emphasis on the area of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount.”

While Al-Asima has announced to its 114,000 Instagram followers that it would suspend operations in order to safeguard its staff and contributors, as of Tuesday the others had yet to do so.

Al-Quds Compass, which claims more than 1.3 million Facebook followers, rejected the accusations. In a statement, it said Israel had “fabricated” a charge of “attempting to ignite tension in Jerusalem during Ramadan” and insisted that its contents are factually accurate and professionally reported.

The Counter-Terrorism Law was passed in 2016 with the support of all Knesset factions except the Meretz and Arab parties.

It specifically empowers the defense minister to designate organizations as terrorist entities.

The law defines a terrorist act as any offense or threat aimed at causing public fear or panic for political, religious, or ideological motives, and criminalizes publishing expressions of praise, sympathy, or support for a terror act or organization.

The law also authorizes the freezing and confiscation of money and property from individuals and entities suspected of terrorism-related offenses.

This is not the first time a defense minister has made such a move.

In October 2023, following the Hamas-led invasion of southern Israel that sparked war in Gaza, then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant banned the Al-Qastal media site, describing it as an arm of Hamas that advanced its goals by serving as its propaganda and support tool.