AP Condemns Israeli Government Cutting Its Live Feed of Gaza

The Associated Press brutally criticized the Israeli government on Tuesday after soldiers with the Israeli Defense Forces seized a camera, equipment, and cut its live feed in southern Israel, citing a new censorship 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, the wire's chief communications officer, said in a statement. “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.”

The law, passed last month, allows Israel to shut down any foreign news outlet it believes to be a security risk. It was widely viewed as an effort to shut down the Israel operations of Qatar-based Al Jazeera, which an Israeli minister described as “acting from within against us.” The Israel government eventually shut down Al Jazeera in the country on May 5.