The AP said in a statement it was ordered to shut down a live feed showing a view into Gaza from the Israeli town of Sderot, saying this was not based on content "but rather an abusive use by the Israeli government of the country's new foreign broadcaster law".

The AP "decries in the strongest terms" Israel's shutting down of the news agency's live Gaza video feed to clients and its seizing of AP equipment.

The Israeli government said the Associated Press ran afoul of the country’s new media law that banned the Al Jazeera from operating inside the country.

Israeli officials have seized the Associated Press’s equipment, banning the wire service from reporting in Southern Israel. They allege that the AP has contributed to coverage by Al Jazeera, the Qatari state-owned news outlet.

I srael’s communications ministry walked back its decision to confiscate Associated Press equipment that provided a livestream view of Gaza, a quick reversal that followed criticism from the Biden administration and international journalists and rights groups.

Israeli officials briefly seized equipment from the AP on Tuesday for allegedly violating the country's laws on media broadcasts amid national security concerns.