Social media and news agencies are still discussing the Israeli airstrikes for the past day. The Israeli Air Force demolished an 11-story building that housed various media outlets. The attack was a warning. However, the Israeli military allegedly did not allow the shipment.
The bomber struck shortly after noon in front of a US Air Force F-16 fighter jet. Three rockets were fired. Everything collapsed in an instant. However, the IDF claimed that it had received a warning about an hour ago and that some Hamas members were inside the building.
There was only one elevator in the Al-Galaa Tower, the home of media outlets such as Al Jazeera and the Associated Press. The 11-storey building in Gaza City contains more than 60 apartments and many offices, including Al Jazeera Media Network and The Associated Press. An Al Jazeera spokesman said it was not easy to move in such a short time.
“We left the elevator for the old people and the children,” said an independent Palestinian journalist. She added that we are all stepping down and those who can help the children have shot them down. Everyone was running fast with life.
The Israeli army, which has been bombing Gaza for six days, issued a phone warning. Residents were given an hour to evacuate the building before it was attacked by warplanes. An Associated Press journalist pleaded with an Israeli intelligence officer over the phone to give him 15 minutes. We have a lot of equipment, including cameras and other equipment, and he asked for another 15 minutes to get it out completely, but he refused. Jawad Mahdi, the owner of the building, also tried to buy more time.
English summary: ‘Give us 10 minutes’: How Israel bombed a media tower in Gaza
