Despite calls from the French broadcast authority to shut down European broadcasts of Hamas television station Al-Aksa TV, the station remains on air as it appeals the ban.
The Gaza-based station said on Tuesday that it was holding negotiations about the ban and would continue broadcasting throughout Europe in the mean time.
“We are still in negotiations with the French government and the broadcasting union and the European Union in order to reverse the decision,” station deputy head Mohammed al-Thuraya told AFP.
“We have appointed lawyers to lodge an appeal with the broadcasting union, and based on this we will continue broadcasting until Thursday,” he added.
Last week, the Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel (CSA) requested that French-based Eutelsat stop carrying Al-Aksa TV programming because “some programs violate French laws against promoting racial hatred and religious violence.”
Thuraya told AFP that Al-Aksa TV was holding “difficult” negotiations with French authorities.
“We do not incite hatred or anti-Semitism, and we have the right to defend the Palestinian struggle,” he said.
Despite Thuraya's assurances, the station regularly airs anti-Semitic broadcasts that have included charging Jews with drinking Arab blood for religious rituals.
