Israeli airstrike destroys a high-rise building in Gaza that housed media outlets including The A.P and Al Jazeera

An Israeli airstrike has destroyed a 15-storey building in Gaza City that housed offices of the Associated Press and Al Jazeera among other media outlets as well as private flats. The Israel Defence Forces ordered people to evacuate the building about an hour before the strike brought the entire tower down.

The building also housed the Gaza Center for Media Freedom, which trains local journalists and monitors press freedom. The Israeli military said the building that was hit also contained “military assets” belonging to Hamas intelligence.

The Qatar-based Al Jazeera television network has condemned Israel’s bombing of the Gaza tower block where it had offices. In a statement, it said it viewed the move as “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.”

Residents and occupants of the building were informed by the Israeli army by phone that they had less than one hour to vacate the building, it added.

Dr Mostefa Souag, acting director general of Al Jazeera Media Network, said:Quote Message: 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.

“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”