Communications Ministry says AP was warned last week to stop providing footage to Al Jazeera

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi’s staff warned the Associated Press last week that they were not legally allowed to provide material to Al Jazeera, his office says in an statement after officials confiscated a camera and broadcasting equipment belonging to AP in southern Israel.

Karhi’s ministry says that the AP was trying to track IDF troop movements, and transferred the footage to Al Jazeera.

“The Communications Ministry will continue to carry out enforcement actions to the extent necessary to limit broadcasts that harm the security of the state,” says the statement.

The AP says it complies with Israel’s military censorship rules, which prohibit broadcasts of details like troops movements that could endanger soldiers. The live shot has generally shown smoke rising over the territory.