Israeli Military Bombs AP and Al Jazeera Offices in Gaza Strip

Building Residents Evacuate After Air Raid Warning One Hour Prior

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki Ha-young] An Israeli airstrike destroyed a building in the Gaza Strip housing foreign media outlets including the Associated Press (AP).

On the 15th (local time), AP and AFP reported that the 'Jala Tower' in the Gaza Strip was destroyed. The 13-story Jala Tower was known to house several foreign news agencies such as the AP and Qatar's state broadcaster Al Jazeera. AP stated that there was no immediate explanation from the Israeli military regarding why the building was targeted in the airstrike.

Earlier, Jawad Mahdi, the owner of the Jala Tower building, received a message from the Israeli military saying, "The building may be targeted in an airstrike, so evacuate everyone within one hour." Accordingly, AP reported that employees and other occupants of the building evacuated urgently.

Since the 10th, large-scale armed clashes have continued between the Israeli military and Hamas, the armed faction in the Gaza Strip. According to Palestinian medical personnel, a total of 139 people have died in the conflict so far, including 39 children and 22 women. In Israel, nine civilians including two boys have died, and over 560 people have been reported injured.