The United States told Israel that ensuring the safety and security of journalists and independent media is a paramount responsibility, White House’s Jen Psaki said after Israel’s military brought down a 12-storey tower block in Gaza City that housed the U.S. Associated Press and Qatar-based Al Jazeera media operations, Reuters reports.
The AP and Al Jazeera strongly condemned the attack that came after Israel gave an hour advance warning so it could be evacuated, claiming later that the building contained military assets of Hamas, the Islamist group that runs Gaza.
Al Jazeera tweeted footage of the building being hit and, pointing that Israeli air raid flattened building that houses Al Jazeera and other international media outlets in Gaza City.
At the same time, AP President and CEO Gary Pruitt said that they are shocked and horrified that the Israeli military would target and destroy the building housing AP’s bureau and other news organizations in Gaza.
According to Pruitt, Israel has long known the location of AP bureau and knew journalists were there. He informed that a dozen AP journalists and freelancers were inside the building and thankfully were able to evacuate in time.
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