Israeli air strike flattens Gaza tower housing media outlets and Hamas military offices

Israel destroyed a 12-storey tower block in Gaza, housing the media offices of the US-based Associated Press (AP) and Qatar-based Al Jazeera on May 15, 2021, saying the building was being used by the Islamist militant group Hamas. The Israeli military said that it had issued warnings for civilians to evacuate the al-Jala building before the attack. The AP condemned the bombing, saying there was “no indication Hamas was in the building or active in the building” and asked for Israel to provide evidence. Al Jazeera broadcast the air strikes live as the building collapsed. In response, Hamas fired rockets at Tel Aviv and towns in southern Israel early on May 16, in what it said was a reprisal for Israel’s destruction of the al-Jala building.

Video source: Reuters