Israel has returned broadcasting equipment belonging to the Associated Press, hours after seizing it in southern Israel and shutting down the US news agency's live feed of Gaza.
Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi reversed the decision, which has led to mounting international pressure.
The White House expressed concern, while the Foreign Press Association said it was alarmed by “the latest in a series of chilling steps by the Israeli government to stifle the media”. The UN condemned the move, calling it "shocking".
AP’s vice-president Lauren Easton said it "decries in the strongest terms the actions of the Israeli government".
Mr Karhi said the equipment was confiscated because it was violating a new media law by providing images for broadcasts on the Qatar-based Al Jazeera network, which it has banned.
His recent statement on X read: "Since the Ministry of Defence wishes to examine the matter of the broadcasts from these locations in Sderot regarding the risk to our forces, I have now ordered to cancel the operation and return the equipment to the AP agency, until a different decision is made by the Ministry of Defence."
Mr Karhi claims the images allegedly shared were transmitting "positions of our forces in the northern Gaza Strip while putting them at risk in accordance with security opinions and the government's decision".
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