Amid criticism, Israel reverses decision to cut off live coverage of Associated Press agency

2024-05-23 20:01:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Amid criticism, Israel reverses decision to cut off live coverage of Associated

After international criticism, Israel this week reversed a decision to cut off the Associated Press news agency's live broadcast from Gaza. As Voice of America correspondent Cristina Caicedo Smith reports, analysts say that this action by the Israeli authorities comes as journalists covering the Israel-Hamas war are facing more challenges.

On Tuesday, the live broadcast from Gaza was interrupted after Israeli officials seized equipment from the Associated Press news agency. The action was condemned by the international factor and the Ministry of Communications in Israel, a few hours later changed course and restored the blocked devices that make the live broadcast possible.

Israel has accused the Associated Press of violating the country's new foreign media law by providing news content to the banned Al Jazeera. The Associated Press denied these claims.

"The closure was not due to the content we broadcast and made available, but due to the abuse of the new foreign media law by the Israeli government. The live stream has mostly provided images of smoke visible over Gaza," said Julie Pace, executive editor of the Associated Press agency.

The order, signed by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, was condemned by the United Nations, the White House and media protection organizations.

"It's quite shocking. I think journalists should be able to do their work freely. The Associated Press, and all news organizations, must be allowed to do their work freely and without any interference," said Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the United Nations.

In May, Israel used the new foreign media law to ban broadcasts by Qatar-based Al Jazeera television, saying it posed a national security concern.

Israel's Communications Ministry said on Tuesday it would take measures to "restrict broadcasts that undermine state security".

Free speech advocates warn that the foreign media law and other restrictions facing media in the region risk increasing false news and disinformation about the conflict.

The fighting began on October 7, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages. Israel has responded by launching an air and ground attack on Hamas-controlled Gaza, killing 35,000 people, according to local health officials.

"One of the problems we are seeing is that the lack of independent media on the ground to cover the war is leading to the spread of propaganda. Therefore, the access of the international media to Gaza is essential", says Clayton Weimers from the "Reporters Without Borders" Organization.

Reporters Without Borders and other international organizations have also criticized Israel for insufficient measures to ensure the safety of journalists.

So far, among the thousands killed, there are more than 100 journalists, almost all Palestinians.

Israel has not accepted the figures for the deaths of journalists, saying the figures also include terrorists, a claim journalists' protection organizations vehemently reject.

"We investigate each case very carefully. We do not include in our data on journalists killed, any person for whom there is reasonable suspicion that he can be considered a militant of Hamas", explained Mr. Weimers.

On Wednesday, the Associated Press resumed live broadcasts.

But as Hamas continues to hold Israeli hostages and nearly 75 percent of Gaza's 2.3 million population has been displaced, media freedom organizations say journalists must be able to report independently. and verified./ VOA