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Israeli officials seized a camera and broadcast equipment belonging to the Associated Press in southern Israel after accusing the news agency of violating a new media law, AP reported Tuesday.
The law, passed by the Israeli parliament in April, allows the state to shut down foreign media outlets if it deems them a security threat. Earlier this month Israel raided and closed Al Jazeera’s offices and banned the company’s websites and broadcasts in the country.
On Tuesday, Israel’s Minister of Communications Shlomo Karhi accused AP of ignoring warnings and continuing to provide service to Al Jazeera.
“The law and the orders signed unanimously by the government, with the overwhelming support of all the security forces, state that devices used to deliver Aljazeera content must be seized from any person or corporation,” Karhi said in a post on X.
He added: “We will continue to act decisively against anyone who tries to harm our soldiers and the security of the country, even if you don’t like it.”
Lauren Easton, AP’s vice president of corporate communications, condemned the move. “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,” she 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,” she continued.
“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 White House described Israel’s seizure of the AP camera as “concerning”.
“We stand firm in our belief in making sure that journalists have the ability and the right to do the job,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.
The Foreign Press Association also said it was alarmed by Israel’s confiscation of AP’s broadcast equipment: “This is the latest in a series of chilling steps by the Israeli government to stifle the media.”
