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NEW YORK (AP) – Israel’s closure and seizure of an Associated Press video camera that gave a live glimpse of Gaza came Tuesday as a result of widespread coverage of a war that was being waged largely out of sight of the world’s eyes in the first place. This caused concern for many journalists who were concerned about the repercussions.
Live footage from Gaza by The Associated Press was restored in Israel early Wednesday morning.
Officials returned the Associated Press equipment late Tuesday after widespread condemnation, including a request by the Biden administration for Israel to withdraw. Israel justifies its move by claiming that the Qatari satellite channel violates a new media law banning Al Jazeera because it is one of thousands of customers receiving AP’s live video. did.
But the camera in the southern Israeli town of Sderot was not the only one operated by AP in Israel or Gaza. The company did not say how many units it uses on a regular basis. Nor is AP the only news organization to do so. Agence France-Presse confirmed that such cameras are frequently used in Israel and that the images are also sold to Al Jazeera.
“Israeli moves today to restrict the work of The Associated Press are deeply disturbing and a clear attack on press freedom,” said AFP global news director Phil Chetwynd.
Media outlets expressed concern about the potential for ambiguity in how Israel’s laws are enforced. They asked what would prevent Israel from completely shutting down news cooperative operations in the country.
“This could allow Israel to block coverage of virtually any news event on vague security grounds,” the Israeli Foreign Press Association said in a statement.
Other countries are also likely to be monitoring Israel’s actions.
Israel has also denied entry to Gaza to foreign journalists to cover the war that began after Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on the Jewish state, and has not made sufficient efforts to protect Palestinian journalists and civilians. It has been criticized for not taking action.
The country “seems to be on top of anything that hurts Al Jazeera,” said Thomas Kent, former president and CEO of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and an international media ethics consultant. he said. Kent said the move hurt reputable news organizations at a time when the country appears to want independent reporting.
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Democracies acting in this way also send a disturbing signal to authoritarian countries, he said. “You have to look at the broader picture,” said Kent, a former standards editor and international correspondent for The Associated Press. “They are giving fuel to other countries who want to seize equipment and shut down transmissions.”
The move against the Associated Press sparked controversy in Israel. Netanyahu’s opposition leader Yair Lapid called it “an act of madness.” Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi accused the AP of violating the country’s law, which states that any equipment used to distribute content to Al Jazeera may be seized. Ta.
“Even if you don’t like it, we will continue to act decisively against those who seek to harm our soldiers and national security,” Kirhi responded to X’s Lapid.
Associated Press cameras are installed in Sderot and can see the situation in Gaza. It was open 24 hours a day, and staff were always on hand. You can also use the staff to move and focus the camera to cover news that may be happening or to avoid filming military actions. The Associated Press said it was complying with military censorship rules that prohibit broadcasting troop movements that could put soldiers at risk.
Fixed cameras are common
News organizations often set up remotely controlled cameras in various locations around the world to provide a view of the area where the news is happening or simply the city skyline.
These shots have a variety of uses, including providing backgrounds for television stations reporting on developments or as livestream features on websites. They can capture live news, as AP cameras were installed outside the courtroom where former President Donald Trump was being tried when a man tried to self-immolate last month. In the early days of the Gaza war, footage from these cameras helped news organizations conduct forensic investigations into those responsible for military attacks on Palestinian hospitals.
AP Vice President Paul Heaven, head of coverage for The Associated Press, said AP is the largest supplier of live video news coverage to newsrooms around the world.
“Our live video provides a window into what’s happening around the world on any given day, allowing viewers to see events unfold with their own eyes,” Haven said.
The Committee to Protect Journalists said it was “deeply disturbed” by Israel’s actions on Tuesday. CPJ program director Carlos Martínez de la Serna said all international news organizations, including Al Jazeera, should be allowed to operate freely in the country.
Although Israel’s return of the equipment is a positive development, the fundamental problems remain.
“We remain concerned about the Israeli government’s implementation of the Foreign Broadcasting Act and the ability of independent journalists to work freely in Israel,” said Associated Press Press Secretary Loren Easton.
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David Bauder writes about media for The Associated Press. Follow him at http://twitter.com/dbauder.
David Bauder, Associated Press
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