In a controversial move, the Israeli government has cracked down on the media, seizing equipment from the Associated Press (AP) and banning Qatar-based news station Al Jazeera from broadcasting within Israel. The actions have sparked alarm among press freedom advocates and raised concerns about Israel's commitment to free speech.
Israel's escalating media crackdown continued on Thursday as communications minister Shlomo Karhi ordered the confiscation of a camera and broadcasting equipment from The Associated Press (AP). The seizure came hours after the government blocked AP's live video feed from Gaza, accusing the news organization of violating a new media law by providing images to Al Jazeera.
"While we are pleased with this development, we remain concerned about the Israeli government's use of the foreign broadcaster law and the ability of independent journalists to operate freely in Israel," AP spokesperson Lauren Easton said in an updated statement Tuesday.
The confiscation of AP's equipment was the latest in a series of steps taken by the Israeli government to suppress critical media coverage. Last month, Israeli lawmakers passed a measure granting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the communications minister authority to temporarily shut down foreign media outlets and confiscate their equipment if they are deemed a "security risk" to Israel.
The law was used to ban Al Jazeera from broadcasting from Israel on April 1. In announcing the decision, Netanyahu called the organization a "terrorist channel" and "Hamas' mouthpiece." Al Jazeera has denied the accusations and called Israel's actions a "blatant attack on press freedom."
The Israeli government has defended its decision to crack down on the media, arguing that it is necessary to protect national security. However, critics argue that the government is using the media law as a tool to silence dissenting voices and control the narrative about the conflict in Gaza.
The confiscation of AP's equipment and the banning of Al Jazeera have drawn condemnation from press freedom organizations around the world. The Foreign Press Association called it "the latest in a series of chilling steps by the Israeli government to stifle the media."
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid described the government's actions as "an act of madness."
The Associated Press and Fox News' Kristine Parks contributed to this report.
