The agency’s live feed from Gaza was allegedly being used by the banned Al Jazeera
The Associated Press violated a new media law by providing a service to Al Jazeera, the Israeli authorities said on Tuesday, after seizing a camera and broadcasting equipment that transmitted a live feed from Gaza.
Communications Ministry officials visited the AP location in the southern Israeli town of Sderot on Tuesday afternoon, the agency said. They handed AP staff a piece of paper signed by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, alleging it was violating Israel’s foreign broadcaster law, and confiscated the equipment.
In a statement about the seizure, the ministry said it would “continue to take whatever enforcement action is required to limit broadcasts that harm the security of the state.”
AP’s feed from Sderot mainly showed smoke from explosions rising over northern Gaza. The agency has said it complies with Israeli censorship rules and does not show anything that could endanger soldiers.
“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, the agency’s vice president of corporate communications.
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