The building houses the offices of the Associated Press and Al Jazeera
A tower block in Gaza which houses the offices of news outlets including the Associated Press and Al Jazeera has collapsed after being hit by an Israeli air strike.
According to Reuters, the building’s owner is said to have received warning by Israeli forces prior to the attack, which allowed those inside to be evacuated in time.
The building also contained other offices and several residential apartments.
Oh my god. The building where al Jazeera’s office is housed has just been taken down by Israeli airstrikes. There was a warning and evacuated. It houses offices and private homes. I can’t believe it. pic.twitter.com/Q4luRYk9H9
— Stefanie Dekker (@StefanieDekker) May 15, 2021
The tower block’s collapse comes at the end of a week where conflict between Israel and Palestine has steadily intensified, with dozens known to have died as a result of fighting.
The UN Human Rights Commissioner has warned those on both sides that attacks on densely populated civilian areas could amount to war crimes.
“Over the past 10 days, the situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel has deteriorated at an alarming rate,” Michelle Bachelet said in a statement given from Geneva.
“The situation in Sheikh Jarrah in occupied East Jerusalem, triggered by threats of forced evictions of Palestinian families; the heavy presence of Israeli Security Forces and violence around the al Aqsa mosque during Ramadan; the severe escalation of attacks from and on Gaza; and the shocking incitement to racial hatred and violence in Israel have all led to vicious attacks and mounting casualties in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and in Israel,” she added.
