Israel seizes equipment belonging to Associated Press

Israel continues its pressure on media organizations.

Officials from the Israeli Ministry of Communications went to the Sderot office of the US-based news agency Associated Press (AP) in the country's south and seized AP's equipment. Officials accused AP of violating the new media law by providing footage to Al Jazeera.

In a statement issued by the Israeli Ministry of Communications, it was stated, "In accordance with the government's decision and the instructions of the Minister of Communications, the Ministry of Communications will continue to implement all necessary sanctions to limit broadcasts that harm the security of the state."

AP condemned Israel's move, stating that Al Jazeera is one of thousands of clients that receive live broadcasts from them. Lauren Easton, Vice President of Corporate Communications at AP, said, "The AP condemns in the strongest terms the actions of the Israeli government to shut down our long-standing live feed showing Gaza and seize AP equipment.

The shutdown was based not on the content of the broadcast, but on the Israeli government's misuse of the country's new media law. We urge Israeli authorities to return our equipment and allow 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."

ISRAEL BACKTRACKS

Israel has backtracked on its decision regarding the US-based news agency Associated Press (AP). Israel will return the seized equipment belonging to the Associated Press (AP) and allow the live broadcast to continue.

Israeli Minister of Communications Shlomo Karhi stated that AP's equipment was seized and the live broadcast was cut because the Israeli Ministry of Defense wanted to examine the risks posed by broadcasts from locations in Sderot to military forces, adding that he had ordered the operation to be canceled and the equipment to be returned to AP.

OPERATIONS IN ISRAEL HALTED

Following the approval of a law granting Israel the authority to ban the broadcasts of channels, including Qatar-based Al Jazeera, on the grounds that they "threaten national security," the Israeli cabinet decided on May 5 to halt Al Jazeera's operations in Israel. According to the decision, Al Jazeera will remain closed for 45 days, but this period may be extended.