Israel has returned broadcasting equipment belonging to the Associated Press, hours after seizing it in southern Israel and shutting down the US news agency's live feed of Gaza.
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi reversed the decision, which has led to mounting international pressure.
The White House expressed concern, while the Foreign Press Association said it was alarmed by “the latest in a series of chilling steps by the Israeli government to stifle the media”. The UN condemned the move, calling it "shocking".
AP’s vice-president Lauren Easton said it "decries in the strongest terms the actions of the Israeli government".
Mr Karhi said the equipment was confiscated because it was violating a new media law by providing images for broadcasts on the Qatar-based Al Jazeera network, which it has banned.
His recent statement on X read: "Since the Ministry of Defence wishes to examine the matter of the broadcasts from these locations in Sderot regarding the risk to our forces, I have now ordered to cancel the operation and return the equipment to the AP agency, until a different decision is made by the Ministry of Defence."
Mr Karhi claims the images allegedly shared were transmitting "positions of our forces in the northern Gaza Strip while putting them at risk in accordance with security opinions and the government's decision".
Earlier this month, the ministry shut down Al Jazeera's operations in Israel, accusing it of being a "Hamas mouthpiece" and harming national security.
Al Jazeera rejected the allegation that it was and denounced the ban as a "criminal act” that violated human rights. It was also condemned by journalism organisations as a blow to press freedom.
Al Jazeera has continued operations in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, which foreign journalists have been banned from entering since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in October.
The Associated Press reported that officials from the Israeli communication ministry seized its camera broadcasting a general view of northern Gaza from the southern town of Sderot on Tuesday afternoon.
The officials “handed the AP a piece of paper, signed by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, alleging it was violating the country’s foreign broadcaster law”, it said, adding that the agency had rejected a verbal order to cease the live transmission last Thursday.
The agency stressed that it complied with Israel’s military censorship rules, which prohibit broadcasts of details like troop movements that could endanger soldiers.
However, the communications ministry accused the AP of broadcasting footage of Gaza from the balcony of a house in Sderot that included “the activity of Israel Defense Forces combat soldiers and their location”.
"Even though communications ministry inspectors warned them that they were breaking the law and that they should remove Al Jazeera as a recipient of their content and not transfer their broadcast to Al Jazeera, they continued to do so,” a statement said.
"The law and directives do not distinguish between Al Jazeera itself and the suppliers who transfer materials to the [news agency] from Israel."
The AP report quoted Ms Easton as saying that “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”.
“We urge the Israeli authorities to return our equipment and enable us to reinstate our live feed immediately so we can continue to provide this important visual journalism to thousands of media outlets around the world,” she added.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre described the report as “concerning” and said it believed journalists had the ability and right to do their jobs.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said the confiscation of a major US media outlet’s equipment was “an act of madness”.
The Foreign Press Association in Jerusalem warned the seizure would block AP from providing crucial images of northern Gaza to hundreds of the agency's clients around the world.
“Israel’s move today is a slippery slope. Israel could block other international news agencies from providing live footage of Gaza. It could also allow Israel to block media coverage of virtually any news event on vague security grounds,” it added.
Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders accused Israel of “outrageous censorship”.
On 9 May, communication ministry inspectors raided a studio being used by Al Jazeera in the northern Israeli city of Nazareth and confiscated a camera and other equipment.
It came four days after the ministry closed Al Jazeera’s offices in occupied East Jerusalem, stopped the network’s broadcasts on Israeli cable and satellite companies, and blocked access to its websites in Israel.
In April, the Israeli parliament approved a new media law allowing foreign networks considered a threat to national security to be "temporarily" banned for a period of 45 days at a time, which could be renewed.
FAQs
The Hamas government in Gaza has been reliant on the PA to help provide electricity in Gaza, with import duties on Gaza's fuel purchased via Israel being collected by Israel, as per Protocol on Economic Relations, which are passed to the PA, which pays the bills to Israel and Egypt for the electricity they supply to ...
Why did Israel give up Gaza? ›
Israel's plan of unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip and North Samaria put forward by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was carried out on 15 August 2005. The purpose of the plan was to improve Israel's security and international status in the absence of peace negotiations with the Palestinians.
Why did Israel impose a blockade on Gaza? ›
In response, Hamas fired thousands of rockets towards urban areas in Israel. Israel has said the blockade is necessary to protect itself from Palestinian political violence and rocket attacks, and to prevent dual use goods from entering Gaza.
Who controls the Gaza Strip? ›
Hamas has governed the Gaza Strip in Palestine since its takeover of the region from rival party Fatah in June 2007. Hamas' government was led by Ismail Haniyeh from 2007 until February 2017, when Haniyeh was replaced as leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip by Yahya Sinwar.
Why is Israel supplying electricity to Gaza? ›
International humanitarian law requires Israel, as the occupying power in Gaza, to ensure that the basic needs of the civilian population are provided for. Israel also must facilitate, not block, the delivery of humanitarian aid. Cutting water and electricity to the population amounts to unlawful collective punishment.
Who funds Gaza? ›
The United States has been a major donor, providing more than $5.2 billion through USAID since 1994. The international community has sent billions of dollars in aid to the Gaza Strip to provide relief to the more than 2 million Palestinians living there.
What is Gaza in the Bible? ›
In the New Testament: Acts
In the Acts of the Apostles, Gaza is mentioned as being on the desert route from Jerusalem to Ethiopia. The Christian gospel was explained to an Ethiopian eunuch along this road by Philip the Evangelist, and he was baptised in some nearby water.
How did Palestine get Gaza? ›
Following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Egypt administered the newly formed Gaza Strip. It was captured by Israel in the Six-Day War in 1967. Between 1994 and 1999, Israel transferred security and civilian responsibility for much of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank to the Palestinian Authority.
Why is Israel invading Gaza? ›
Israel says its goals are to destroy Hamas and to free hostages. Critics have accused Israel and Hamas of war crimes, including deliberately targeting civilians, using human shields, and deliberately starving the people of Gaza to death.
Why can't you enter Gaza? ›
Entry to the OPTs , including by sea to Gaza, is controlled by the Israeli authorities. You must show a passport and Israeli immigration slip to cross between Israel and the OPTs . There are requirements for foreign nationals entering the West Bank.
The vast majority of the Palestinians who live in Gaza are refugees or the descendants of refugees who moved to Gaza after being expelled or fleeing Zionist forces during the wars around the creation of Israel in 1948. Palestinians call that exodus the Nakba, or catastrophe.
How does Gaza get food? ›
Gaza has long been reliant on humanitarian aid, as the territory has been under a yearslong blockade by Israel and Egypt. Before the war began in October, two-thirds of Gazans were supported by food assistance. Now, nearly the entire population is dependent on aid to eat.
How big is Gaza compared to a US state? ›
The Gaza Strip is geographically about the size of Philadelphia, Detroit or the country of Grenada. Overlay (in red) of Gaza Strip boundaries over Washington, D.C Source: Newsweek.
Who rightfully owns the Gaza Strip? ›
The Gaza Strip is currently under the control of Hamas. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is an independent international treaty organisation with its own legislative assembly. Many of the member states recognise the State of Palestine.
Why did Britain give Palestine to Israel? ›
In 1917, in order to win Jewish support for Britain's First World War effort, the British Balfour Declaration promised the establishment of a Jewish national home in Ottoman-controlled Palestine.
How does the Gaza Strip make money? ›
Gaza City contains some minor industries, including textile production and food processing. A variety of wares are sold in Gaza's street bazaars, including carpets, pottery, wicker furniture, and cotton clothing.
Does Gaza have internet? ›
An organisation called Connecting Humanity provides internet access to people in Gaza using donated eSIMs, allowing them to connect to networks outside of Gaza. By December 2023 200,000 people living in Gaza (around 10% of the population) had received internet access through an eSIM.
What money is in Gaza? ›
The currency in the Gaza Strip is the Israeli shekel (NIS). Gaza time is GMT +2. Routine and emergency healthcare is available in Gaza. For international staff memberse, surgery and long-term care is readily available in Israel.
What is the cost of living in Gaza? ›
A family of four estimated monthly costs are 1,871.7$ (6,933.9₪) without rent. A single person estimated monthly costs are 549.9$ (2,037.0₪) without rent.
