Israeli minister announces closure of 'Hamas mouthpiece' Al Jazeera

Israel's Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi says the country has ordered the seizure of Al Jazeera's broadcasting equipment after the government decided to shut down the Qatar-based news channel in the country, with which it has had a long-running feud.

Karhi accuses Al Jazeera, several of whose journalists have been killed and wounded as a result of Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza, of being the Palestinian militant group's "mouthpiece".

Al Jazeera has fiercely condemned Israel's decision as "criminal" and accused it of systematically targeting its employees in the Gaza Strip.