Israel to return seized Associated Press camera, reverse block on Gaza live feed
- Officials had accused the US news agency of violating a new media law by providing images to Al Jazeera
- The confiscation of gear was condemned by the US, journalism organisations and Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid, who called it ‘an act of madness’
Israel’s communications minister ordered the government to return a camera and broadcasting equipment it had seized from the Associated Press, reversing course hours after blocking the news organisation’s live video of Gaza.
The government seized the AP equipment from a location in southern Israel after accusing it of violating a new media law by providing images to the satellite channel Al Jazeera.
Israeli officials used the new law on May 5 to close down Qatar-based Al Jazeera within Israel, confiscating its equipment, banning its broadcasts and blocking its websites.
After Israel seized the AP equipment, the Biden administration, journalism organisations 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 on Tuesday on the social platform X: “I have now ordered to cancel the action and return the equipment to the AP.”
