An Israeli airstrike blew up the building in which media outlets such as Associated Press, Al Jazeera, and other news organizations worked this past weekend.
Reporters for the AP and Al Jazeera evacuated the 12-story building after Israeli Defense Forces warned the owner that they were targeting the tower.
They believed the militia group Hamas was using the building for intelligence operations, communications, and planning attacks. Israeli forces struck the building an hour later, causing it to collapse completely.
“We are shocked and horrified that the Israeli military would target and destroy the building housing AP’s bureau and other news organizations in Gaza,” Gary Pruitt, AP President and CEO, said in a statement.
“They have long known the location of our bureau and knew journalists were there. We received a warning that the building would be hit.”
The AP’s executive editor, Sally Buzbee, made an appearance on CNN’s “Reliable Sources” asking for an independent investigation into the airstrike that destroyed the building.
“We are in a conflict situation,” Buzbee said. “We do not take sides in that conflict. We heard Israelis say they have evidence; we don’t know what that evidence is. We think it’s appropriate at this point for there to be an independent look at what happened yesterday — an independent investigation.”
The Hill relayed the message from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who stated that the airstrike is due to Hamas operating there.
Eduardo Razo is the Assistant Content Editor for BNM, which includes writing daily news stories on the news media industry. He can be found on Twitter @eddierazo_ or you can reach him by email at eddie1991razo@gmail.com.
