Israeli Government Reverses Decision to Seize AP Equipment: Returns Camera and Broadcasting Equipment

Israeli Government Reverses Decision to Seize AP Equipment, Restores Live Video of Gaza

In a surprising turn of events, the Israeli government has decided to return a camera and broadcasting equipment it had seized from The Associated Press, allowing the news organization to resume its live video coverage of Gaza. The reversal came after the government faced widespread criticism for interfering with independent journalism.

The AP’s live video of Gaza was back up early Wednesday in Israel, following the government’s decision to return the equipment. The government had seized the AP equipment in southern Israel, accusing the news organization of violating a new media law by providing images to the satellite channel Al Jazeera.

This move by the Israeli government had sparked outrage from the Biden administration, journalism organizations, and Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid. Pressure mounted on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to reverse the decision, leading to the return of the AP equipment.

Israel’s communications minister, Shlomo Karhi, announced the decision to cancel the action and return the equipment to the AP. He also mentioned that the defense ministry will review news outlets’ positioning of live video of Gaza, as officials had not previously informed AP that the positioning of its live camera was an issue.

While the AP welcomed the return of its equipment, concerns remain about the Israeli government’s use of the foreign broadcaster law and its impact on independent journalism in Israel. The Foreign Press Association highlighted Israel’s dismal record on press freedom during the conflict and warned of serious implications for press freedom in the country.

The AP’s live video coverage from Sderot provided a rare independent glimpse of the situation in Gaza, amid accusations of bias against Israel by Al Jazeera. The news organization has remained in Gaza throughout the conflict, broadcasting scenes of airstrikes and overcrowded hospitals.

This latest development comes in the context of ongoing tensions between Israel and media outlets, with previous incidents involving the destruction of AP’s Gaza office during the 2021 Israel-Hamas war. The AP denied any knowledge of a Hamas presence in the building, and the army never provided evidence to support its claim.

As the conflict in Gaza continues, the restoration of the AP’s live video coverage is a positive step towards ensuring independent journalism and press freedom in the region. Follow AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war for the latest updates on the situation.