Reports from Jerusalem indicate that the Israeli government has taken action against the Associated Press, shutting down its live camera feed and seizing its equipment. The live feed, focused on northern Gaza from a position in southern Israel, captured images of smoke billowing above Gaza and airstrikes. The Israeli communications ministry cited the foreign broadcaster law, which was recently enacted, as the basis for their actions. This law empowered the government to halt Al Jazeera's operations in Israel, and the ministry claims that the Associated Press was providing live broadcasts to Al Jazeera, a client of theirs.
The ministry stated that they had warned the Associated Press to cease providing material to Al Jazeera prior to seizing their equipment. This move is part of a broader crackdown on press freedoms within Israel, following the earlier shutdown of Al Jazeera. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized the government's actions, emphasizing that the Associated Press is an American award-winning media outlet, not Al Jazeera. Lapid expressed concern that such actions could isolate Israel internationally and criticized the government for what he perceives as a detrimental decision.
