Israeli Minister of Communication Shlomo Karhi ordered the return of Associated Press (AP) equipment Tuesday after officials from the ministry seized it and took down the news organization’s live feed of northern Gaza earlier in the day. Karhi said that the defense ministry was re-examining the issue and that the equipment would be returned until further notice.

After the initial seizure, Karhi said on X (formerly Twitter) that a recently passed media law allowed the communications ministry to cut the feed and claimed the AP was supporting Al Jazeera, which was recently shuttered by Israeli authorities after being accused of supporting terrorist activity.

The AP had been operating in southern Israel and reporting on the war in Gaza, including showing a live feed over the northern part of the territory. This live feed did not show troop positions or movements, as the AP said they followed Israel’s military censorship requirements and usually depicted rising smoke from Gaza. Authorities told the AP last week to take down the live feed, which the AP declined to do. Following this, officials from the Ministry of Communications raided the AP’s offices in the southwestern Israeli city of Sderot, seizing equipment and providing a letter signed by Karhi claiming the AP violated the law by providing images to Al Jazeera.

The AP condemned the move, saying Al Jazeera is “among thousands of clients that receive live video feeds from the AP.” Lauren Easton, vice president of corporate communications at AP, went further, saying:

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.

News of the seizure sparked an uproar, including in Israel, given the AP’s reputation as a mainstay of journalism and the importance of covering the war in Gaza. The Union of Journalists in Israel released a statement on X condemning the action and urging the country’s Attorney General to initiate an investigation. It stressed the importance of press freedom, saying, “This action poses a serious threat to press freedom and democracy. A free and professional press, even one that is critical of the government, is essential in a healthy democracy.” 

Opposition leader Yair Lapid also denounced the action, pointing out that the AP has won 53 Pulitzer prizes and saying that the government was turning Israel into a global pariah. Karhi responded to Lapid by saying the Ministry would defend the country’s interests and threatening to send inspectors should Lapid assist organizations like Al Jazeera.

At the time of publication, the US, Israel’s biggest international backer, had not released an official statement. However, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that the action was “concerning” and that the administration was “going to look into this.” Two US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, later told the AP that the US had privately urged Israel to reverse the decision. 

Israel’s actions against the AP come as the country faces increasing scrutiny for its treatment of media and media workers while it continues its assault on Gaza. When the country suspended Al Jazeera’s operations, an official from Reporters Without Borders commented that “Israel is using every possible method to try to silence Al Jazeera for its coverage of the reality of the fate of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza since October 7th.” More than 97 journalists have been killed in the war between Israel and Hamas, and Israel has been accused of targeting media workers, with Al Jazeera filing a war crimes complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in December.

Hamas killed more than 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and took more than 200 hostages in its October 7 attacks. International law experts have said that this, along with rocket attacks targeting civilian areas, constitutes war crimes. Families of October 7 victims filed a complaint with the ICC alleging genocide, which led to the ICC Prosecutor’s first-ever visit to the region.

Israel responded to the attacks with a war on Gaza that has killed over 35,000 people—mostly civilians—according to Gaza’s health ministry. Israeli strikes have hit places like medical facilities and refugee camps, and human rights groups have accused Israel of war crimes. Nearly two million people, 86 percent of the territory’s population, are displaced and face a collapsed medical system and famine. The International Court of Justice has ordered Israel to “take all measures within its power” to prevent a “plausible” genocide in Gaza and also issued emergency provisional measures to address the escalating humanitarian crisis.

On Monday, the ICC Prosecutor sought an arrest warrant for Israel’s Prime Minister and Defense Minister, as well as leaders of Hamas.

This article was originally published May 21, 2024 at 11:53:58 AM EDT. It has been updated to reflect recent developments.