Defense Minister Yisrael Katz signed today (Tuesday) the declaration of five media platforms operated by the terrorist organization Hamas as "terror organizations.".
The measure, based on extensive intelligence information from the General Security Service, was intended to block the channels of incitement that operated under the cover of legitimate journalism.
The announcement is based on information collected by the Shin Bet, according to which the platforms "Quds Plus", "Meydan Al-Quds", "Al-Quds Al-Buzala", "Al-Ma'rag" and "Al-A'tzma" - served as incitement platforms for the terrorist organization, while presenting them as legitimate media outlets.
According to the Shin Bet's findings, these networks operated an extensive network of websites, Facebook pages, Telegram channels, YouTube, and popular Instagram.
Intelligence information revealed that the bodies were directly managed by Hamas operatives and received instructions from the organization's headquarters in the Gaza Strip, Turkey, and other countries.
The goal of the platforms was to incite the Israeli Arab population and the Palestinians in Judea and Samaria, while exploiting current issues to wildly incite, encourage riots, and carry out nationalist terrorist acts.
The declaration makes any activity by these bodies, or by anyone acting on their behalf, illegal and allows security agencies to prosecute those involved.
""The General Security Service, together with the other security agencies, will continue to act resolutely and with all the tools at its disposal according to law to maintain the security of the citizens of the State of Israel and thwart all terrorist activity," the Shin Bet said in a statement.
