Following its crackdown on Qatar-based media outlet Al Jazeera, the Israeli government seized the broadcasting equipment of The Associated Press (AP) in southern Israel. The government accused the news agency of violating a new media law by providing images to Al Jazeera, as reported by the Qatar-based media giant on Tuesday.
Al Jazeera stated it was among thousands of clients receiving live video feeds from the AP and other news organizations. The AP condemned the action, accusing the government of misusing the newly passed foreign media law.
“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,” said Lauren Easton, vice president of corporate communications at the AP, as quoted by Al Jazeera. “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,” she added.
According to Al Jazeera, officials from the Communications Ministry arrived at the AP location in the southern town of Sderot on Tuesday afternoon and confiscated the equipment. They provided the AP with a document signed by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, alleging a violation of the foreign broadcaster law.
Just before the equipment was taken, the AP was broadcasting a general view of famine-stricken northern Gaza, where Israeli forces are conducting a ground and aerial assault. The AP stated it adheres to Israel’s military censorship rules, which prohibit broadcasting details like troop movements that could endanger soldiers. The live shot showed smoke rising over the besieged area, according to Al Jazeera.
The seizure followed a verbal order on Thursday to cease the live transmission, which the news organization refused to comply with, as reported by Al Jazeera. “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,” the ministry said in a statement.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the move as “an act of madness.” He stated, “This government behaves as if it has decided to make sure at all costs that Israel will be swayed all over the world. They went crazy.”
The White House also expressed concern over the development. “We stand firm in our belief that journalists have the ability, right to do their jobs,” it said, according to Al Jazeera.
On May 5, the Israeli cabinet unanimously voted to shut down Al Jazeera in the country, immediately ordering the closure of its offices and a ban on its broadcasts and websites. Al Jazeera condemned the decision as a ‘criminal act.’ This followed the passage of a law by Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, on April 1, allowing the temporary shutdown of foreign media outlets, including Al Jazeera, if deemed a threat to security.