Israel Police officers were dispatched to halt the broadcasts of foreign media channels who revealed exact locations of Iranian missile impacts, Israeli authorities said after Thursday morning’s barrage.
“Israel Police units were dispatched to halt the broadcasts—including those of news agencies through which Al Jazeera was airing illegal transmissions,” according to the statement.
The move was taken per the policy of Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and in consultation with Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi to “maintain the safety and security of citizens,” it said.
The Islamic Republic and its terrorist proxies are known to monitor public broadcasts to confirm missile hits and improve the accuracy of attacks.
“The Israel Police will not allow harm to the security of the state or the safety of the citizens of Israel,” Thursday’s police statement concluded.
Last month, Israeli lawmakers voted to extend a temporary order that allows the banning of the Qatari channel’s operations in the Jewish state. However, the broadcaster is known to use cameras operated by press agencies, including the Associated Press, to circumvent the legislation.
“I call on on everyone watching Al Jazeera, on all citizens, to notify the police,” Ben-Gvir said from Soroka University Medical Center in Beersheva, which took a direct missile hit, on Thursday.
“This morning in Tel Aviv, there was an incident where equipment was confiscated,” added the minister, who oversees the Israel Police. He added: “There is a clear policy: Al Jazeera endangers state security.”
The police action came a day after the Israel Defense Forces’ military censor issued an updated emergency order instructing news outlets to apply for prior permission to publish “the location of a strike or hit by enemy war materiel, including missiles of any kind and UAVs.”
“I prohibit the printing or publishing of any publication that has not been submitted to the Censor, or which has been submitted to him and his instructions have yet to be received or have been received and not adhered to,” warned IDF Chief Censor Brig. Gen. Kobi Mandelblit.