Saturday's Israeli air strikes destroyed the tall building housing The Associated Press's office in Gaza, despite repeated urgent calls from the news agency to slotxo xo the military to halt the impending attack on the AP. Called the strike. "Shocking and terrifying"
Twelve AP officers and mercenary gunmen were working and resting in the office Saturday afternoon when Israeli soldiers called on an hour-long alert for residents of the building to evacuate. Anyone can go out and grab their belongings before three heavy missiles hit the 12-story building and collapse into a giant dust.
Even though no one was hurt But the air strikes have dismantled the AP reporter's second home-like office, marking a new chapter in the Israeli military's relationship with the international media. Press Freedom groups condemn the attacks. They accuse the army, which claims the building is home to Hamas military intelligence, of trying to censor the Israeli aggression coverage of the Hamas militants.
Prior to the demolition, the AP made quick calls to the Israeli Army, Foreign Minister and Prime Minister's Office. But was ignored or said there was nothing to do
For 15 years, the AP's top-floor office and roof terrace have been the prime location for concealing Israeli conflicts with the Hamas ruler of Gaza, including the wars of 2009, 2012 and 2014, the news agency's cameras presented. 24/7 live footage as militants' rockets crash into a curve. Israeli and Israeli air strikes have destroyed cities and surrounding areas this week.
"We have no indication that Hamas is in the building or working in the building," AP President and CEO Gary Pruitt said in a statement. We will not deliberately put our journalists at risk. "
Pruitt explained to the news agency: "Shocked and terrified that Israeli soldiers will target and destroy AP office buildings and other news organizations in the Gaza Strip," he warned: "The world will know less about what is happening in Gaza because of what is happening in the Gaza Strip. That happened in the present "
“This is an incredibly disturbing development. We narrowly avoid the loss of life, ”he said, adding that the AP was seeking information from the Israeli government and contacting the US State Department.
The building is home to several offices, including the Arabian Al-Jazeera satellite channel.Dozens of residents living in upstairs apartments have been displaced.
Video broadcast by Al-Jazeera shows building owner Jawwad Mahdi begging over the phone with an Israeli intelligence officer to wait 10 minutes for reporters to enter the building to retrieve valuable equipment before it is bombed.
"All I ask is to let four people ... go in and get their cameras," he said. "We respect your wishes, we won't do it without your permission. But give us 10 minutes. ”When the officer refused the request, Mahdi said,“ You have ruined our lives, our memories, our lives. I'll hang up, do what you want to have God. ”