Israeli Officials Seize AP Equipment, Cut Live Feed of Gaza

Israeli officials seized broadcasting equipment belonging to the Associated Press on Tuesday, arguing it was used to provide images to Al Jazeera, whose Jerusalem bureau was shuttered earlier this month following the passage of a new foreign broadcast law.

Why it matters: Press advocates have warned that the law creates a dangerous precedent for censoring independent news outlets in the region amid the ongoing war with Hamas.

Israeli lawmakers passed the measure last month, empowering the country's communications minister to take action against any foreign media network that it can prove poses a national security risk.
Tuesday's seizure has already garnered sharp criticism, with Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid calling it "an act of madness."

...In a statement, AP's vice president of corporate communications Lauren Easton said the wire service "decries in the strongest terms" the actions of the Israeli government.

"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," she added.

She also urged Israeli authorities to return the company's equipment and allow the news agency to reinstate its live feed immediately.

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