"Criminal Act": Israel Bans Al Jazeera, Largest Int'l News Org. in Gaza, Ahead of Rafah Invasion

As the death toll in Gaza soars to more than 34,700, Israeli authorities have taken Al Jazeera off the air in Israel and ordered Palestinians in eastern Rafah to evacuate ahead of an Israeli offensive. The Israeli government is trying to conceal what's happening in Gaza and trying to intimidate Al Jazeera ... and delegitimize the whole coverage," says Al Jazeera's managing editor Mohamed Moawad, explaining this is a strategy" to try to make sure that the story doesn't reach the world." Over the past eight months, Al Jazeera has been one of the only international outlets with reporters on the ground inside Gaza, where at least three of its employees have been killed by Israel's monthslong assault. Israel has been threatening to ban Al Jazeera for incitement" via a series of intimidations" for months, culminating in a criminal act," says Moawad. He calls on the international community, including the U.S. government, to condemn Israel's suppression of a free press.