Israel Shuts Down AP’s Gaza Live Feed, Sparks Global Outcry and Concerns Over Press Freedom
Israel announced on Tuesday that it had shut down an Associated Press (AP) live video feed from war-torn Gaza, prompting a protest from the US news agency and raising concerns at the White House.
The Israeli communications ministry accused the AP of violating a new prohibition against providing live footage of Gaza to Qatar-based satellite channel Al Jazeera.
Officials said they confiscated the equipment based on government-approved orders, claiming it was by the law.
The AP reported that Israeli authorities had seized its camera and broadcasting equipment in Sderot, an Israeli town overlooking northern Gaza.
AP condemned the Israeli government’s actions in a statement, calling it an “abusive use” of Israel’s new foreign broadcaster law and urging the return of its equipment to resume its live feed, essential for global visual journalism.
The AP clarified that Al Jazeera is one of thousands of clients that receive its live video feeds. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the government’s decision on social media, noting that the AP is a reputable American news organization with 53 Pulitzer Prizes.
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White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre expressed concern and indicated that the situation would be investigated.
AFP’s global news director, Phil Chetwynd, described Israel’s action as “an attack on press freedom,” emphasizing the importance of verified information and images.
He urged the authorities to reverse the decision and allow journalists to work freely. The United Nations called the move “shocking,” with a spokesman for the UN Secretary-General stating that the AP should be able to operate without harassment.
Earlier in the month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government had shut down Al Jazeera’s operations in Israel, including closing its Jerusalem offices and confiscating its equipment.
The AP detailed that communications ministry officials seized its equipment in Sderot on Tuesday, accusing it of violating the new foreign broadcast law.
The ministry stated that the AP regularly broadcasted from Sderot, focusing on IDF soldiers’ activities and locations.
Despite warnings to stop transmitting content to Al Jazeera, the AP continued, leading to the confiscation of their equipment.
Previously, Israeli officials had confiscated broadcasting equipment from Al Jazeera’s studio in Nazareth. The AP mentioned that its seized equipment was used to broadcast general views of northern Gaza, typically showing smoke rising from the territory.
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The agency reiterated its compliance with Israel’s military censorship rules, which prohibit showing details that could endanger soldiers.
The Foreign Press Association in Israel expressed alarm at the seizure of the AP’s equipment, warning it could lead to broader restrictions on international news coverage in Gaza. They criticized Israel’s record on press freedom during the Gaza war.
Reporters Without Borders ranked Israel 101st out of 180 countries in its 2024 press freedom index.
The organization condemned Israel’s actions as “outrageous censorship,” noting that the shutdown of the AP’s live feed was a concerning development following the ban on Al Jazeera.
The Gaza conflict began after a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in over 1,170 deaths, mostly civilians, and 252 hostages, 124 of whom remain in Gaza, including 37 believed to be dead.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed at least 35,647 people in Gaza, primarily civilians, according to the territory’s health ministry.
Israel Shuts Down AP’s Gaza Live Feed, Sparks Global Outcry and Concerns Over Press Freedom