The Associated Press is condemning the Israeli government in "the strongest terms" for shutting down its live feed of Gaza and seizing its equipment.
On Tuesday afternoon, Israel verbally warned the Associated Press that they needed to end the feed. The news organization refused to comply.
A short time later, Israeli officials arrived at the AP's filming location in Sderot and took the news outlet's equipment. The government accused the AP of violating their new media law by providing access to the feed to Al Jazeera.
A member of AP's staff on site was handed a piece of paper signed by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, accusing them of violating the new law.
Lauren Easton, vice president of corporate communications at the Associated Press, issued a statement condemning the actions of the Middle Eastern country.
“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,” Easton said. “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.”
The AP explained, "Shortly before, the equipment was broadcasting a general view of northern Gaza. The AP complies with Israel’s military censorship rules, which prohibit broadcasts of details like troops movements that could endanger soldiers. The live shot has generally shown smoke rising over the territory."
Israel was not only unapologetic for the attack on the free press but vowed to continue to "take whatever enforcement action is required to limit broadcasts that harm the security of the state."
“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.
Israel’s opposition leader, Yair Lapid, spoke out in favor of the Associated Press.
“This is not Al Jazeera. This is an American news outlet,” Lapid said. “This government acts as if it has decided to make sure at any cost that Israel will be shunned all over the world.”
Karhi responded to Lapid in a post on X, saying, “We will continue to act decisively against anyone who tries to harm our soldiers and the security of the state, even if you don’t like it.”
