On Tuesday, Israeli authorities confiscated a camera and broadcasting equipment from the Associated Press (AP) in southern Israel, accusing the news organization of violating a new media law by supplying images to Al Jazeera. The Qatari satellite channel is one of thousands of clients that receive live video feeds from AP and other news organizations. The AP strongly criticized the move.
“The Associated Press decries in the strongest terms the actions of the Israeli government to shut down our longstanding live feed showing a view into Gaza and seize AP equipment,” stated Lauren Easton, vice president of corporate communications at AP. “The shutdown was not based on the content of the feed but rather an abusive use by the Israeli government of the country’s new foreign broadcaster law. We urge the Israeli authorities to return our equipment and enable us to reinstate our live feed immediately so we can continue to provide this important visual journalism to thousands of media outlets around the world.”
Officials from the Communications Ministry arrived at the AP location in Sderot, southern Israel, on Tuesday afternoon and seized the equipment. They provided AP with a document signed by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, alleging a violation of the country’s foreign broadcaster law. Before the equipment was seized, it was broadcasting a general view of northern Gaza, showing scenes like smoke rising over the territory.
The seizure followed a verbal order issued last Thursday to cease the live transmission, which AP had refused to comply with. “In accordance with the government decision and the instruction of the communications minister, the communications ministry will continue to take whatever enforcement action is required to limit broadcasts that harm the security of the state,” stated the ministry.
On May 5, using the same law, Israeli officials closed the offices of Al Jazeera, confiscated its equipment, banned its broadcasts, and blocked its websites. Israel has long accused Al Jazeera of bias against the country, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labeling it a “terror channel” that spreads incitement.
The conflict in Gaza began with a Hamas attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and 250 others taken hostage. Since then, over 35,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
