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The Israeli government has labeled the Al Jazeera television network a mouthpiece for Hamas and has moved to shut down the network's operations in the country.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his cabinet had agreed to a shutdown while the war in Gaza continues.
Police raided the offices of Qatar Broadcasting Corporation in the Ambassador Hotel in Jerusalem on Sunday.
Al Jazeera denounced the claim that it was a threat to Israel's security as a “dangerous and ridiculous lie.”
The channel said it reserves the right to “take any legal action.”
Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi said equipment was taken in the raid.
A video posted by the minister on X/Twitter shows police officers and Ministry of Communications inspectors entering the hotel room.
A BBC team visited the scene, but police prevented them from filming or entering the hotel.
According to Reuters, Israel's Yes satellite broadcasting service displayed a message saying, “In accordance with the government's decision, Al Jazeera broadcasting has been suspended in Israel.''
However, the blockage is only partial in nature, as the channel is still accessible through Facebook in Israel.
Foreign journalists are prohibited from entering Gaza, and the only reporters on the ground were some Al Jazeera staff.
Israeli authorities have long accused the network of anti-Israel bias.
Their criticism of the broadcaster has intensified since the October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages. Approximately 128 of the hostages are still missing, and at least 34 are presumed dead.
At least 34,683 Palestinians were killed and 78,018 injured in Israel's subsequent military operation in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry.
Last month, Israel's parliament passed a law giving the government the power to temporarily shut down foreign broadcasters deemed a threat to national security during the war with Hamas.
Communications Minister Karhi said the ban “takes immediate effect.” You must recertify every 45 days.
According to the interim order, offices may be closed, Al Jazeera's website may be removed and its equipment may be seized.
Qatar, where Al Jazeera is based, is currently mediating negotiations between Israel and Hamas over the nearly seven-month-old conflict.
Previous negotiations brokered by Qatar led to a temporary ceasefire and the release of 105 Israeli hostages in November.
Al Jazeera accused Israel of deliberately targeting its personnel.
Journalists were killed in an Israeli airstrike, including Hamza al-Dahadou, the son of Al-Jazeera Gaza bureau chief Wael al-Dahadou. Israel denies targeting journalists.
In its response to Sunday's ban, the network said: “While Israel is suppressing press freedom to cover up its crimes by killing and arresting journalists, it does not prevent us from fulfilling our obligations.” said.
