Israel Hamas War Latest Update: Israel and Palestine, who have been at conflict for decades, turned their conflict into a full-fledged war when on October 7, the terrorist organisation Hamas fired 5000 rockets from Gaza on Israel. Since then, the attacks between two countries have not stopped; thousands of lives have been lost and multiple people are still held hostage. In a latest news update, media is also facing the effects of war; weeks after the Israeli Cabinet voted to shut down Al Jazeera in the country for being a potential ‘threat to security’, the country has now seized the broadcasting equipment of Associated Press (AP) citing ‘violations’ of a new media law by providing images to Al Jazeera. The media organisation has condemned this move and has also accused the government of abusing the recently passed foreign media law.
Israel Reverses Decision Of Broadcasting Equipment Seizure
The Israeli government will return a camera and broadcasting equipment it had seized from The Associated Press on Tuesday, reversing course hours after it blocked the news organization’s live video of Gaza and faced mounting criticism for interfering with independent journalism. After Israel seized the AP equipment, the Biden administration, journalism organizations and an Israeli opposition leader condemned the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and pressured it to reverse the decision. Israel’s communications minister, Shlomo Karhi, said late Tuesday on the social platform X: “I have now ordered to cancel the action and return the equipment to the AP.”
AP Broadcasting Equipment Seized By Israel, Live Transmission Stopped
As mentioned earlier, following its crackdown on Qatar-based media outlet Al Jazeera, the Israeli government had seized the broadcasting equipment of The Associated Press (AP) in southern Israel, accusing the news agency of violating a new media law by providing images to Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based media giant reported on Tuesday. Al Jazeera said it was among thousands of clients to receive live video feeds from the AP and other news organisations.
The seizure followed a verbal order Thursday to cease the live transmission, which the news organisation refused to do, according to Al Jazeera. “In accordance with the government decision and the instruction of the communications minister, the communications ministry will continue to take whatever enforcement action is required to limit broadcasts that harm the security of the state,” the Israel ministry said in a statement.
Associated Press Accused Govt Of Abusing New Foreign Broadcaster Law
The AP denounced the move, accusing the government of abusing the recently passed foreign media law. “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,” Lauren Easton, vice president of corporate communications at the AP, was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera.
“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. 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,” she added.
AP Broadcast Equipment Seized: Here’s What Happened
According to Al Jazeera, officials from the Communications Ministry arrived at the AP location in the southern town of Sderot on Tuesday afternoon and seized the equipment. They handed the AP a piece of paper, signed by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, alleging it was violating the country’s foreign broadcaster law. Shortly before the equipment was seized, the AP was broadcasting a general view of famine-struck northern Gaza where Israeli forces continue to press on a ground and aerial assault.
The AP said it complies with Israel’s military censorship rules, which prohibit broadcast of details like troops movements that could endanger soldiers. The live shot showed smoke rising over the besieged territory, the Al Jazeera reported.
(Inputs from AP, ANI)
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