by Thinus Ferreira
Israel's air force on Saturday afternoon decided to target and bomb the 12-story Al-Jalaa building in Gaza where the region's news bureaus and offices of Al Jazeera (DStv 406 / StarSat 257) and Associated Press (AP) were located with several journalists who managed to escape alive after they were given an hour to flee before the building was attacked and collapsed.
Israel started a new bombing offensive this past week that saw the Al-Jalaa building, that also has residential space, flattened on Saturday in the shocking air missile attack.
Abu Husam, the owner of the Al-Jalaa building pleaded with Israeli officials not to bomb the building and to allow journalists of Al Jazeera, Associated Press and Middle East Eye to return to the building to collect gear and equipment but the building was bombed minutes later after his call and collapsed.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claims that the Al-Jalaa building allegedly housed "Hamas military intelligence assets and said on social media that "The building contained civilian media offices, which Hamas hides behind and deliberately uses as human shields".
"After providing advance warning to civilians and time to evacuate, IDF fighter jets struck a multi-story building containing Hamas military intelligence assets. The building contained civilian media offices, which Hamas hides behind and deliberately uses as human shields."
Al Jazeera's Safwat al-Kahlout, reporting from Gaza , said a resident of the building received a call from the Israeli army warning of the impending attack about an hour before it was hit.
Safwat Al-Kahlout, who was in the Al-Jalaa building at the time, said he and colleagues "started to collect as much as they could, from the personal and equipment of the office, especially the cameras". They then fled and watched as at least three missiles hit the building after which it collapsed.
Gary Pruitt, Associated Press (AP) president and CEO, in a statement says that "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".
"They have long known the location of our bureau and knew journalists were there. We received a warning that the building would be hit."
"We are seeking information from the Israeli government and are engaged with the United States State Department to try to learn more."
"This is an incredibly disturbing development. We narrowly avoided a terrible loss of life. A dozen AP journalists and freelancers were inside the building and thankfully we were able to evacuate them in time. The world will know less about what is happening in Gaza because of what happened today."
Dr Mostefa Souag, acting director-general of Al Jazeera, in a statement says "We call on the international community to condemn such barbaric actions and targeting of journalists and we demand an immediate international action to hold Israel accountable for its deliberate targeting of journalists and the media institutions".
"The aim of this heinous crime is to silence the media and to hide the untold carnage and suffering of the people of Gaza."
"The destruction of Al Jazeera offices and that of other media organizations in Al-Jalaa tower in Gaza is a blatant violation of human rights and is internationally considered a war crime."
"We call on all media and human rights institutions in denouncing this heinous crime, and to stand with Al Jazeera and other media organisations targeted by the Israeli army, despite knowing their use of the building as their headquarters for many years."
"Al Jazeera condemns in the strongest terms the bombing and destruction of its offices by the Israeli military in Gaza and views this as a clear act to stop journalists from conducting their sacred duty to inform the world and report events on the ground."
"Al Jazeera promises to pursue every available route to hold the Israeli government responsible for its actions."
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says Israel's military is "deliberately targeting media facilities in order to disrupt coverage of the human suffering in Gaza".
"We demand that the Israeli government provide a detailed and documented justification for this military attack on a civilian facility given the possible violation of international humanitarian law."
"Journalists have an obligation and duty to cover unfolding events in Gaza and it would be illegal for the IDF to use military means to prevent it."
