TRANSCRIPT
Israeli authorities have attempted to seize camera equipment belonging to the Associated Press in the latest in a series of attempts to censor or limit the coverage of media outlets in the region.
The Israeli government confiscated the equipment after accusing the AP of breaking the law by providing a live broadcast of Gaza's skyline to Al Jazeera, which Israel placed under a temporary ban earlier this month due to what it claims are national security concerns.
The move drew immediate condemnation from Executive Editor of the Associated Press, Julie Pace, calling the action an abuse of power.
"We at The Associated Press decry in the strongest terms the actions of the Israeli government which has shut down our longstanding live feed showing a view into Gaza and seized AP equipment. We comply with Israel's rules prohibiting broadcasts of details like troop movements that could endanger soldiers. 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 new media law, passed in April, allows the government to order foreign broadcasters to temporarily cease operations on grounds of national security.
Media rights groups criticised the camera seizure, which Reporters without Borders called "outrageous censorship".
This follows a report on Monday (20 May) from Israel's +972 Magazine which revealed that, in 2023, the Israeli military censor barred the publication of 613 articles by media outlets in Israel, setting a new record since the magazine began collecting data in 2011.
The data, which came from a freedom of information request, showed the censor also redacted parts of a further 2,703 articles, meaning the Israeli military prevented information from being made public nine times a day on average.
The White House, which has supported Israel in its assault on Gaza, responded to the A-P seizure with press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre saying the move was concerning.
"Obviously this is concerning. And so we want to look into it, but we've always been clear the importance of the work that journalists do. And that is essential to the American people, to the world globally. And so we're going to always continue to be steadfast on that. And certainly we're going to look into this, and it is concerning to hear."
Following this widespread criticism, Israel has decided to reverse course.
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi says he has now ordered officials to cancel the original decision and return the confiscated equipment, pending a decision by the Ministry of Defence, which he said wished to examine the issue.
Israel's media censorship and the killing of journalists amid its assault on Gaza has becoming increasingly concerning to press freedom and human rights advocates.
As of Tuesday (21 May), the Committee to Protect Journalist reported that at least 105 journalists and media workers have been killed since October 7, with 100 of those journalists Palestinian, two Israeli, and three Lebanese.
Meanwhile, the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) says they've been forced to suspend food distribution in Gaza's southern city of Rafah due to a lack of supplies and insecurity.
UNRWA says only seven out of 24 of their health centres are operational as they have not received any medical supplies in the last ten days due to Israel closing and disrupting border crossings at Rafah and Kerem Shalom.
Director-General of the World Health Organisation, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, says Israel must do more to re-establish lines to humanitarian aid.
"At a time when the people of Gaza are facing starvation, we urge Israel to lift the blockade and to let aid through. Crossings from Egypt into Gaza have remained closed for two weeks, cutting off the primary pipeline for emergency health supplies into Gaza. Approximately 700 seriously ill patients who would have otherwise been evacuated for medical care elsewhere are stuck in a war zone."
And in the Occupied West Bank, Israeli forces have killed at least seven Palestinians and wounded nine others during a major raid on the city of Jenin that involved dozens of vehicles and continued into the night.
The Palestinian Health Ministry says a 15-year-old and 16-year-old were among those killed as well as a teacher and a doctor who were reportedly shot dead on their way to work.
Dr Oussaid Jabareen, a 50-year-old surgeon at Jenin Government Hospital is among the dead.
Local paramedic Murad Khamayseh told Al Jazeera that his colleague's death has made him feel like his own life is at risk.
"I didn't recognise him at first because the sporadic and lethal gunfire continued as I was trying to help him but he was already dead. He was always there for patients when he was on and off shift. I might be next just because I'm going to work."
There was no immediate information on the identity of the three others who were killed, however the Israeli military says the operation targeted armed militants in the city and claim a number of Palestinian gunmen were shot in the process.
