Authorities accused the Associated Press of breaking a new media law by providing material to the Al Jazeera news channel. The incident happened in the town of Sderot, from where the agency has been providing live images of Gaza throughout the war.
Israeli authorities have shut down a live broadcast by the Associated Press (AP) and seized camera equipment, accusing the organisation of breaking laws because it provides material to the Al Jazeera news station.
The incident happened in the town of Sderot, on the Gaza border, from where the AP has provided a near constant live picture of the northern Gaza skyline throughout the war.
A verbal order to stop broadcasting had previously been issued last Thursday, which the AP refused to follow.
Commenting on the incident, the Associated Press said it “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.
“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.”
According to a statement reported by The Times of Israel, the Ministry of Communication said it will “continue to take whatever enforcement action is required to limit broadcasts that harm the security of the state.”
Al Jazeera’s offices in east Jerusalem were raided and equipment confiscated hours after that law was passed.
Thousands of international broadcasters, including Sky News, are clients of the Associated Press.
The agency says it has abided by Israeli military censorship that prevents the broadcast of troop movements or anything that might put Israeli soldiers at risk; its live shot has provided a near constant view of the Gaza horizon, often showing large columns of smoke rising after airstrikes.