IFJ reacts to Israel's seizure of AP team's equipment

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has reacted to the seizure of live broadcasting equipment belonging to the US-based news agency Associated Press (AP) near the Gaza Strip border by Israeli authorities, which provides services to the Al Jazeera television network.

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IFJ reacts to Israel's seizure of AP team's equipment

The Brussels-based IFJ issued a written statement regarding Israel's seizure of AP's live broadcasting equipment in Gaza, citing its new media law.

The statement expressed concern over Israel's trend of restricting press freedom and obstructing the work of journalists.

The statement included the following remarks from IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger:

"The US must exert more pressure on its ally (Israel), which is deliberately undermining media freedom and freedom of expression in the country, to change its policies toward Palestinian journalists and lift the ban on foreign media entry into Gaza."

Officials from the Israeli Ministry of Communications had raided the location of the AP team providing live broadcast services in the city of Sderot near the Gaza Strip and seized their equipment.

It was reported that Israeli officials provided the news agency with the justification that AP was providing live broadcast services to the Qatar-based Al Jazeera television network, which was recently banned in the country.

News Source: 12punto