GAZA: Media houses today (Saturday) have strongly condemned the destruction of its offices by the Israeli military in Gaza, saying that they were “shocked and horrified”.
“This is an incredibly disturbing development. We narrowly avoided a terrible loss of life,” AP President and CEO Gary Pruitt said in a statement about the attack on the building.
He further said a dozen AP journalists and freelancers had been in the building but were able to evacuate. “The world will know less about what is happening in Gaza because of what happened today,” he added.
In a statement, Al Jazeera said it “condemned in the strongest terms” the destruction of its offices by the Israeli military in Gaza. The organisation vowed to use every means to hold the Israeli government to account.
#AlJazeera statement on #Israel’s bombing of the building housing its offices and those of other international media in #Gaza ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/iN3m2wHzQo
— Amanda Price (@amandaruthprice) May 15, 2021
Al Jazeera called on other media organisations as well human rights organisations to join in denouncing the “ruthless bombing” and ensure that the Israeli government was held responsible for its actions.
The destruction of the media offices was a “blatant violation of human rights and is internationally considered a war crime”, he further said. “Journalism is not a crime,” the statement concluded.
Middle East Eye, whose office was also inside the building, also shared a video of the owner reportedly talking to an Israeli officer on live TV to let journalists collect their gear before the bombing.
WATCH: The owner of al-Jalaa tower pleads with an Israeli officer on live TV to let journalists collect their gear before he bombs it.
Moments later, Israeli air strikes demolish the #Gaza building that housed several international media offices, including #AlJazeera and MEE pic.twitter.com/Sf5PM3UN7P
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) May 15, 2021
Meanwhile, the White House said it has cautioned Israel about the importance of protecting independent media. “We have communicated directly to the Israelis that ensuring the safety and security of journalists and independent media is a paramount responsibility,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki tweeted.
We have communicated directly to the Israelis that ensuring the safety and security of journalists and independent media is a paramount responsibility.
— Jen Psaki (@PressSec) May 15, 2021
Earlier in the day, an Israeli air strike destroyed a high-rise building in Gaza City that housed offices of The Associated Press, Al Jazeera, Middle East Eye and other media outlets. Jawad Mehdi, the owner of the Jala Tower, said an Israeli intelligence officer warned him he had just one hour to ensure the evacuation of the building.
The moment Israel bombed Al-Jalaa tower in Gaza housing international media outlets including Al Jazeera and AP. Reports and media personnel were not even allowed time to grab their equipment before evacuating the building #GazaUnderAttack #Palestine pic.twitter.com/jR2oMDyr68
— Marwa Fatafta #SaveSheikhJarrah (@marwasf) May 15, 2021
