CleanupBot II at 17:45, 13 August 2023

2023-08-13T17:45:00Z

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{{Short description|Official Hamas-run television channel}}

{{Infobox television channel
| name = Al-Aqsa TV
| logo =
| logo_size = 250
| logo_caption =
| logo_alt =
| image =
| established =
| airdate =
| launch_date = {{Start date|2006|01|09|df=y}}
| closed_date = 
| picture_format =
| network = al-Aqsa Media Network
| owner = [[Hamas]]
| parent =
| motto =
| country = [[State of Palestine|Palestine]]
| language = [[Arabic]]
| area = [[Middle East]], [[Webcast]]
| affiliates =
| headquarters = [[Gaza City|Gaza]]
| former_names =
| replaced =
| replaced_by =
| sister_channels =
| timeshift_service =
| website = {{URL|http://aqsatv.ps}} <small>(ar)</small>
| terr_serv_1 =
| terr_chan_1 =
| sat_serv_1 =
| sat_chan_1 =
| cable_serv_1 =
| cable_chan_1 =
| sat_radio_serv_1 =
| sat_radio_chan_1 =
| iptv_serv_1 =
| iptv_chan_1 =
| online_serv_1 = [http://aqsatv.ps/live aqsatv]
| online_chan_1 = Live Streaming (24/7)
| 3gmobile serv 1 =
}}

'''Al-Aqsa TV''' ({{lang-ar|قناة الأقصى}}) is a [[television]] channel run by [[Hamas]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7807124.stm |title=Hamas leader killed in air strike |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=2009-01-01 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104073652/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7807124.stm |archive-date=2009-01-04 }}</ref> which is based in the [[Gaza Strip]]. Its programs include news and propaganda promoting Hamas,<ref>[http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4559009,00.html "Subtle voices of dissent surface in ...."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816050046/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4559009,00.html |date=2014-08-16 }} ''Ynetnews''. 15 August 2014. 15 August 2014</ref> children's shows (such as ''[[Tomorrow's Pioneers]]'', that promotes violence and [[antisemitism]]<ref>{{Cite news|title=Anti-Semitic Hate Speech in the Name of Islam|date=16 May 2008|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,553724,00.html|editor=Spiegel Online International}}</ref>), and religiously inspired entertainment.<ref name=npr_al_aqsa_tv>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5186883 |access-date=2006-02-03 |title=Hamas Launches Television Network |publisher=[[NPR]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427063105/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5186883 |archive-date=2006-04-27 }}</ref> It is currently directed by [[Fathi Hamad]], who is a member of the [[Palestinian Legislative Council]]<ref name = telegraph_al_aqsa_tv>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1551265/Anti-Israel-%27Mickey-Mouse%27-row-escalates.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505090232/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1551265/Anti-Israel-%27Mickey-Mouse%27-row-escalates.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2013-05-05| access-date=2007-05-11 |title=Anti-Israel 'Mickey Mouse' row escalates | publisher=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]] | location=London | first=Tim | last=Butcher | date=2007-05-11}}</ref> and [[Interior Minister of the Gaza Strip]]. The channel is named after the [[Al-Aqsa Mosque]] in [[Jerusalem]].

==History==
The station began broadcasting in the [[Gaza Strip]] on 9 January 2006,<ref name=news24_alaqsa_tv/><ref name=adl_al_aqsa_tv>{{cite web |url=http://www.adl.org/combating-hate/international-extremism-terrorism/c/al-aqsa-tv-hamas.html |access-date=11 January 2017 |title=Terrorism: Al Aqsa TV |date=13 May 2013 |publisher=[[Anti-Defamation League]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170112220351/http://www.adl.org/combating-hate/international-extremism-terrorism/c/al-aqsa-tv-hamas.html |archive-date=12 January 2017 }}</ref> after Hamas won a decisive victory in the [[2006 Palestinian legislative election]].<ref name = npr_al_aqsa_tv/> On 22 January 2006, the Palestinian public prosecutor Ahmed Maghni moved to close down the al-Aqsa television station because it did not have the necessary broadcast license, but the decision was never enforced.<ref name=news24_alaqsa_tv>[http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_1867389,00.html Hamas TV station shut down] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009220331/http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0%2C%2C2-10-1462_1867389%2C00.html |date=2007-10-09 }}, news24.com, January 22, 2006</ref>

On 29 December 2008, during the [[Gaza War (2008–09)|Gaza War]], Israeli aircraft repeatedly bombed the television station headquarters in [[Gaza City]]. The building was completely destroyed,<ref name=cnn_bombing>{{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/12/27/gaza.israel.strikes/index.html| access-date=2008-12-28 |title=Hundreds dead, injured in Gaza as Israeli airstrikes continue | publisher=[[CNN]] | date=2008-12-28| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081230143944/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/12/27/gaza.israel.strikes/index.html| archive-date= 30 December 2008 | url-status= live}}</ref> but the station continued to broadcast from a mobile TV unit.{{citation needed|date=August 2017}}

On 29 July 2014, during the [[2014 Israel-Gaza conflict]], an Israeli air strike hit a media building housing al-Aqsa TV and al-Aqsa Radio in the centre of Gaza City early in the morning. The television station continued to broadcast, but the radio station went silent.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/gaza/10997026/Israel-Gaza-conflict-massive-explosions-as-air-strikes-hit-Hamas-media-building.html|title= Israel-Gaza conflict: massive explosions as air strikes hit Hamas media building|access-date= 2014-07-29|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140729100856/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/gaza/10997026/Israel-Gaza-conflict-massive-explosions-as-air-strikes-hit-Hamas-media-building.html|archive-date= 2014-07-29}}</ref> The radio station has since come back on the air.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://twitter.com/AqsaTVChannel/status/494033193574875136|title= Twitter account for AqsaTVChannel|access-date= 2014-07-29|url-status= live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140819174228/https://twitter.com/AqsaTVChannel/status/494033193574875136|archive-date= 2014-08-19}}</ref>

On 12 November 2018, Israel bombed the station building after launching at least five non-exploding missiles nearby as warnings to evacuate followed a surge in cross-border fighting.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Editorial |first1=Reuters |title=Israel bombs Hamas TV station in Gaza after warning shots |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-palestinians-violence-tv/israel-bombs-hamas-tv-station-in-gaza-after-warning-shots-idUSKCN1NH29Z?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews |work=U.S. |date=12 November 2018}}</ref>
In 2019 after the [[Shin Bet]] assessed that al-Aqsa TV used coded messages to recruit operatives to Hamas;<ref>{{cite news |last=Hacohen |first=Hagai |date=February 13, 2019 |title=Hamas Attempts to Recruit West Bank, Jerusalem Residents - Via Satellite |url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Hamas-attempts-to-recruit-West-Bank-Jerusalem-residents-via-satellite-580520 |newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |access-date=March 7, 2019}}</ref> and the Israeli [[Ministry of Defense (Israel)|Ministry of Defense]] has designated al-Aqsa TV a terrorist organization.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rubenstein |first=Sara |date=March 6, 2019 |title=Netanyahu Declares Hamas's al-Aqsa TV a Terrorist Organization |url=https://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/gaza-news/Netanyahu-declares-Hamass-Al-Aqsa-TV-a-terrorist-organization-582599 |newspaper=[[The Jerusalem Post]] |access-date=March 7, 2019}}</ref>

==Criticism==
In May 2013, al-Aqsa TV became the focus of media scrutiny after a decision by the [[Newseum]] to honor two al-Aqsa TV members as part of its ongoing memorial to journalists who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |title=Spotlight On Al Aqsa Television |url=http://blog.adl.org/international/spotlight-on-al-aqsa-television|publisher=Anti-Defemation League|access-date=13 May 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816044531/http://blog.adl.org/international/spotlight-on-al-aqsa-television|archive-date=16 August 2013}}</ref> The U.S. government classifies al-Aqsa TV as being controlled by Hamas, a "[[Specially Designated Global Terrorist]]," and states that it "will not distinguish between a business financed and controlled by a terrorist group, such as Al-Aqsa Television, and the terrorist group itself."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg594.aspx|title=Treasury Designates Gaza-Based Business, Television Station for Hamas Ties|website=www.treasury.gov|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006091936/http://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg594.aspx|archive-date=2014-10-06}}</ref>
According to the American Jewish organisation, the Anti-Defamation League, Al-Aqsa TV promotes terrorist activity and incites hatred of Jews and Israelis<ref name=adl_al_aqsa_tv/> and much of its programming glorifying violence is geared towards children.<ref name=adl_al_aqsa_tv/>

In regards to Al-Aqsa's television program ''[[Tomorrow's Pioneers]]'',<ref name=gulfnews_tomorrows>[http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/05/13/10124830.html Al Aqsa TV defies Hamas government] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207060357/http://archive.gulfnews.com/articles/07/05/13/10124830.html |date=2008-12-07 }}, [[Reuters]], May 13, 2007.</ref> following complaints by Israeli watchdog groups that triggered international scrutiny, [[Information Minister of the Palestinian National Authority|Palestinian Information Minister]] [[Mustafa Barghouti]] said he had asked Al-Aqsa TV to stop broadcasts so the content could be reviewed. Despite Barghouti's call, ''Tomorrow's Pioneers'' went on air as usual.<ref name=gulfnews_tomorrows/> In later episodes the co-host, a Mickey Mouse-like character named Farfour was killed by an Israeli interrogator, and was replaced by a bee named Naoul, who also died and was replaced by a rabbit character named Assoud. Assoud, in turn, was martyred and replaced by Nassur the bear.{{citation needed|date=September 2012}}

In May 2008, Bassem Naeem, the [[Ministry of Health (Palestinian)|minister of health]] in the [[Hamas Government in Gaza|Hamas government in Gaza]], responded to allegations of [[antisemitism]] in Al-Aqsa TV programmes.<ref name="guardian_naeem"/> In his letter to ''[[The Guardian]]'', Naeem stated that the Al-Aqsa Channel is an independent media institution that often does not express the views of the Hamas government or the Hamas movement.<ref name="guardian_naeem">{{cite news | first= Bassem | last= Naeem | title= Hamas condemns the Holocaust | date= 2008-05-15 | work= [[The Guardian]] | url= https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/may/12/hamascondemnstheholocaust/ | location= London | url-status= live | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161201173227/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/may/12/hamascondemnstheholocaust | archive-date= 2016-12-01 }}</ref> In response, ''The Guardian'' columnist [[Alan Johnson (political theorist)|Alan Johnson]] wrote that Al-Aqsa TV cannot be a media institution independent of Hamas,<ref name="guardian_johnson">{{cite news | first=Alan | last=Johnson | title=Hamas and antisemitism | date=2008-05-15 | work=[[The Guardian]]| url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/may/15/hamasandantisemitism | location=London | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119091754/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2008/may/15/hamasandantisemitism | archive-date=2017-01-19 }}</ref> because it is headed by [[Fathi Hamad]], chairman of a Hamas-run company that also produces the Hamas radio station and its bi-weekly newspaper,<ref name="guardian_johnson"/> and because, since 2007, Hamas had blocked [[Palestinian National Authority]] broadcasts into [[Gaza City|Gaza]], which indicated that there is no independent media in Gaza.<ref name="guardian_johnson"/>

About reporting, Ibrahim Daher, a director at Al-Aqsa media operation, said they may not broadcast certain news. He said “If there was bad news during the war, or something went wrong, we just kept silent about it” and “now we mostly keep silent about the blockade, and that Hamas wasn't able to lift it during the war”.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/hamas-radio-station-in-gaza-reports-on-the-sunny-side-of-islamist-movements-rule/2014/09/28/cf533106-c8b2-47ab-9c6f-1f1acc075ca3_story.html|title=Hamas radio station in Gaza reports on the sunny side of Islamist movement's rule|access-date=14 January 2015|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=29 September 2014|last=McCoy|first=Terrence|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224000209/http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/hamas-radio-station-in-gaza-reports-on-the-sunny-side-of-islamist-movements-rule/2014/09/28/cf533106-c8b2-47ab-9c6f-1f1acc075ca3_story.html|archive-date=24 February 2015}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[al-Aqsa Foundation]]
*[[Al Fateh]], Hamas' web site for children
*[[Al Manar]]
*[[Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==

* [http://www.aqsatv.ps/ Official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161212201912/http://aqsatv.ps/ |date=2016-12-12 }} {{in lang|ar}}

{{Palestinian media}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Al-Aqsa Tv}}
[[Category:Hamas]]
[[Category:Mass media in the State of Palestine]]
[[Category:Television stations in the State of Palestine]]
[[Category:Arab mass media]]
[[Category:Arabic-language television stations]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 2006]]
[[Category:Mass media in Gaza City]]
[[Category:Television in the State of Palestine]]
[[Category:Attacks on mass media offices]]
[[Category:Al-Aqsa Mosque]]
[[Category:Television networks in Palestine]]

Al-Aqsa TV - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 17:45, 13 August 2023