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Israeli police raided television crews in Haifa, including state-run TRT Arabic, and seized their equipment following Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's instructions to prevent foreign television stations from broadcasting live coverage.
The raids came after far-right Minister Ben-Gvir ordered Israeli police and intelligence services to block foreign television stations' live broadcasts.
Israeli police stated they conducted raids at a hotel following reports and in line with Minister Ben-Gvir's "zero tolerance" directives, targeting "people who were directing cameras toward the port in Haifa."
The statement said journalists whose equipment was confiscated were summoned for questioning.
TRT Arabic television and Dubai-based Al-Gad channel confirmed that Israeli police raided their crews' locations in Haifa.
Earlier in the day, Ben-Gvir called on Israel's internal intelligence service Shin Bet (Shabak), to "take action against foreign television broadcasts that endanger state security."
Ben-Gvir claimed that while the Israeli military published censorship rules during Iranian attacks "to prevent Iran from making its attacks more accurate," some television channels broadcast live footage of impact sites, arguing they were "committing crimes."
The minister announced he had given police instructions to take action against foreign television channels.
During Iran's attack on the morning of June 15, a missile hit an oil refinery facility in Haifa, and Qatar-based Al Jazeera television's live broadcast of these moments drew criticism in Israeli media.
The oil refinery in Haifa, located in northern Israel, suspended operations after being damaged in Iran's retaliatory missile attack.
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