Several international media had their jobs here, then the Israeli army completely destroyed the skyscraper in the Gaza Strip with an air strike. Now the US government has spoken out.
After the Israeli air strike on a high-rise building in the Gaza Strip that was also used by the international media, the US emphasized the importance of protecting journalists. “We have told the Israelis directly that ensuring the safety and protection of journalists and independent media is a primary duty,” said White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki on Saturday.
The Israeli army had previously attacked the building, which was used by international media, among others, in conflict with the radical Palestinian organization Hamas. The 13-story skyscraper was hit by several rockets and destroyed, as reported by journalists from the AFP news agency.
One hour’s warning
The US news agency Associated Press (AP) and the Qatari television broadcaster Al-Jazeera, among others, had their offices in the building. According to an AP journalist, the owner of the skyscraper was “warned” by the Israeli army in advance of the attack that it was “becoming a target”.
Another US news agency correspondent reported on Twitter: “We ran down the stairs from the eleventh floor.”
It is the fifth skyscraper to collapse Israel’s army since the recent escalation began on Monday. According to the information, the Qatari TV broadcaster Al-Jazeera also had an office in the building that was recently destroyed.
Military: Hamas uses human shields
The Israeli army announced on Twitter that fighter jets had attacked a high-rise building in which the Islamist Hamas military intelligence service had “military resources” at its disposal. “In the building there are offices of civil media, behind which the terrorist organization Hamas is hiding and which it abuses as human shields.” Hamas is deliberately positioning its military resources in the heart of densely populated residential areas in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli military had previously explained its strategy on Twitter: They are currently attacking more and more high-rise buildings that are suspected to be Hamas. In order not to endanger civilians, the owners are warned in advance of the attacks in order to evacuate the buildings. From the point of view of the armed forces, the procedure is compatible with international law.
A spokesman for the Hamas military arm said after the building was destroyed, Tel Aviv should prepare for a “response that will shake the earth.”
Militant Palestinians had already attacked the coastal metropolis three times with rockets on Saturday. A person was killed in the Tel Aviv suburb and there was considerable property damage. These were the most intense attacks to date on the greater Tel Aviv area.
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