Six journalists were killed in a targeted Israeli attack that brought condemnation from the UN’s human rights office, Reporters Without Borders, the Foreign Press Association and the Committee to Protect Journalists. Five were Al Jazeera journalists, one of whom the Israeli military alleged had “served as the head of a terrorist cell in Hamas”. The CPJ said: “Israel has a longstanding, documented pattern of accusing journalists of being terrorists without providing any credible proof.” The lead journalist killed in some of his recent social media posts had criticized Hamas. CPJ says at least 186 journalists have been killed since the start of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza in October 2023 – the deadliest period for journalists since it began recording such data in 1992.
Al Jazeera was founded on 1 November 1996 in Qatar, as a satellite TV channel delivering Arabic news and current affairs, but has since evolved into a multifaceted media network. It receives public funding from the Qatar government. While critics view Al Jazeera Arabic as being influenced by Qatar’s foreign policy, Al Jazeera English is seen as editorially independent. The network has often been targeted by foreign governments upset with its reporting.
It has a penetrating, determined Scorpio Sun and Mercury in an upbeat sextile to Jupiter on one side and sextile Mars on the other; with tough-minded Pluto trine Saturn in Aries sextile Uranus in Aquarius (and Neptune). A high-drama, good-in-crisis Mars square Pluto; and a wideish yod of Mars sextile Mercury inconjunct Saturn.
When the October 7th Hamas attack took place tr Saturn in Pisces was exactly opposition the Al Jazeera Mars and moving to square the Pluto – pulling Al Jazeera into the centre of the action.
The Israeli government does not allow international news organisations, including the BBC, into Gaza to report freely, so many outlets rely on Gaza-based reporters for coverage.
With the Al Jazeera yod focal point Saturn in Aries assailed by tr Saturn conjunct for its Return into early 2026; and tr Neptune conjunct the Saturn on and off till early 2027, it will continue to move through highly uncertain times. Tr Uranus is exactly square the Mars for this killing and that will be in place also through 2026 until early 2027.
The Al Jazeera/Israel relationship chart, always hostile and fraught at the best of times, with a toxic composite Mars Pluto conjunction; and doubt-ridden, suspicious Saturn opposition Neptune will be worsening dramatically through this winter and on as tr Uranus squares the composite Mars and the Mars/Pluto midpoint; and opposes the Neptune throughout 2026 – nerve-stretched and high risk.
There seems to be no end to this deathly quagmire in any direction.
The post Al Jazeera journalists – a sombre Saturn Return first appeared on Astroinform with Marjorie Orr – Star4cast.
