From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Israel designates 5 Hamas-linked media platforms as terror groups
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleStav Levaton is a military reporter for The Times of Israel
Defense Minister Israel Katz designates five Hamas-linked media platforms as terrorist organizations following a prolonged intelligence effort by the Shin Bet, the agency announces.
The move targets the outlets Quds Plus, Maydan Al Quds, Al-Quds al-Bawsala, Al-Maaraj and Al-Asima, which the Shin Bet says operated under the guise of legitimate journalism while serving as incitement arms of Hamas.
According to the agency, the platforms were run by Hamas operatives and followed directives from the group’s leadership in Gaza, Turkey and other countries, disseminating content across websites and social media including Facebook, Telegram, YouTube, Instagram and X.
The Shin Bet says the outlets sought to incite Arab Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank, encouraging unrest and nationalist attacks under the pretext of protest over key issues.
Under Israeli law, the designation renders activity tied to the platforms illegal, with security forces authorized to act against those operating them or promoting their content.
The Shin Bet says it will continue working with other security agencies to “act decisively” to thwart such activity and safeguard public security.
The Times of Israel Community.