Israel Destroys Gaza Building That Housed AP and Al Jazeera Offices

On Saturday, Israeli forces attacked the Jala Tower in Gaza City, which housed the newsrooms of the Associated Press and Al-Jazeera, as well as residential apartments. The airstrike completely destroyed the building.

According to the IDF, Tel Aviv targeted the tower because the Palestinian Hamas group was allegedly using it for military intelligence purposes.

AP CEO and President Gary Pruitt issued a statement saying his company was shocked to learn about the Israeli attack.

Check out Sputnik's gallery to see the moment of the strike and its aftermath.

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A ball of fire erupts from the Jala Tower as it is destroyed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza city controlled by the Palestinian Hamas movement, on 15 May, 2021. - Israeli air strikes pounded the Gaza Strip, killing 10 members of an extended family and demolishing a key media building, while Palestinian militants launched rockets in return amid violence in the West Bank. Israel's air force targeted the 13-floor Jala Tower housing Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television and the Associated Press news agency.

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Smoke billows from a building housing various international media, including The Associated Press, after the Israeli airstrike.

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A view of the 13-story building moments after it was hit.

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Another view of the ill-fated building.

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The tower collapses after the Israeli missile strike in Gaza.

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Another view as the building collapses.

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Smoke rises from the wrecked building.

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The debris of Jala Tower.

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The building has been reduced to rubble.

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A Palestinian policeman stands in the rubble.