Al Mayadeen addresses Israeli ban, warns against harming its staff

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen Media Network
11 Aug 2024 18:52
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Al Mayadeen Media Network confirms its professional, ethical, and humanitarian coverage of news, warning against any harm that its journalists may be subjected to.

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Al Mayadeen Media Network's logo as seen in an illustration (Al Mayadeen)

Al Mayadeen Media Network issued a statement against the backdrop of the renewal of an Israeli ban on its activities in occupied Palestine.

Below is the text of the statement:

Following the recent Israeli decision to renew the ban on its operations and both visual and online broadcasts, Al Mayadeen Media Network announced the following:

Al Mayadeen condemns the decision of the Israeli government and its Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) and views it as further evidence of the occupation's inherent antagonism to journalism and its efforts to obscure the reality, whether partially or fully.

Al Mayadeen sees this as another occasion in which the Israeli occupation revealed its antagonistic stance toward free and professional media, in general, and those committed to human rights and causes worldwide, especially those pertaining to the Palestinian people in the besieged and resilient Gaza Strip, in particular.

Al Mayadeen considers the occupation's insistence on banning a media outlet that is not under its control or the control of some of its allies and promoters, whether through intimidation or enticement, as a sign of weakness and fragility. It shows how angered and stressed the occupation is due to Al Mayadeen's commitment to its professional, humanitarian, and strategic media approach. The network emphasizes that labeling its correspondents in Palestinian 1948 occupied territories and the occupied West Bank as "terrorists" is, in itself, a form of terrorism. Al Mayadeen warns against inflicting any harm on its journalists and asserts that it will not yield to any form of extortion or pressure, regardless of its impact or extent.

It is clear that the occupation views Al Mayadeen as an outlet that enjoys a strong presence and influence, exhibiting the utmost credibility and commitment to its morals. That is why the occupation reacts to the news outlet with a hysterical and puzzling degree of confusion when dealing with every word, image, and on-the-field presence, especially when Al Mayadeen contributes to quelling sedition, exposing and debunking lies, and calling out the crimes for what they are.

Al Mayadeen reaffirms its absolute commitment to rejecting any form of normalization with the occupation, whether directly or indirectly, by adhering to never promoting the occupation's narrative under any pretext, disguised in supposed professionalism, and assuring that it will never be dragged into this disgraceful quagmire, no matter the cost.

The ban decision underscores how worried and anxious the occupation is about Al Mayadeen's news coverage, as it conveys the truth with utmost credibility and exposes the ongoing Israeli genocide and continuous criminal massacres to the world with professional integrity and steadfast humanitarian and ethical commitment.

Al Mayadeen maintains its media, intellectual, political, cultural, ethical, and humanitarian positions firmly. It will never waver from supporting the Palestinian cause, thus fully siding with Gaza's just cause and its people and children. The network will continue to expose the lethal Israeli sadism, the erosion of the occupation's entity, and the fragmentation of its society, regardless of how extreme the self-serving propaganda of the occupation and its allies and submissive followers becomes amid their frenzy of disinformation, deception, and threats.

Al Mayadeen extends its gratitude and appreciation to everyone who rushed to reach out in solidarity and express their position. The network calls on the free people of the Arab world and elsewhere to voice their rejection of the occupation's ongoing systematic policies against journalists, correspondents, and media staff and to renew their absolute condemnation of the occupation's crimes of killing journalists in Gaza and elsewhere.

Al Mayadeen views this publicly marketed ban and the frenzied Israeli media incitement against the channel and its correspondents, especially at this specific time and stage, as a message of intimidation. The network is aware of the decision's goals and implications, and it holds the occupation accountable for them before the public and the free people of the world, as well as the Arab and international media community.

Al Mayadeen will continue its work with full professionalism and commitment, coupled with utmost humility and courage, holding strong to the values of truth and justice, aligning with the oppressed, and defending Palestine, Gaza, and the people. The network will not cease to showcase global solidarity with Gaza and its people, highlighting the devotion and bravery of its people and the support provided by its allies and Resistance forces on all fronts.

We remain steadfast, rooted, and committed... braced with professionalism and dedication... with no hesitation, stammering, or going back...

Al Mayadeen Media Network...

Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli occupation government approved a proposal by Minister of Communications Shlomo Karhi to renew the ban on the Al Mayadeen Media Network. The decision includes the seizure of its equipment and the blocking of its websites.

Israeli media reported that the Minister of Communications pursued a new government decision after obtaining a "professional opinion" from security agencies and receiving approval from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In November 2023, the Israeli Security Cabinet approved the suspension of the Al Mayadeen Media Network in occupied Palestine. The ban followed a joint statement by the Minister of Security, Yoav Gallant, and the Minister of Communications, Shlomo Karai, who cited the network as a threat to "Israel's security" as the reason for the ban.

The Israeli decisions against Al Mayadeen come as it continues to cover Operation Al-Aqsa Flood and all related developments, in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, occupied al-Quds, Israeli-occupied territories, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, and Iran, since October 7.