Israel’s Credibility Problem: Air Strikes destroy buildings housing more than a dozen media outlets in Gaza

( Committee to Protect Journalists) – New York – Israeli forces must refrain from bombing media outlets, and should ensure that journalists can work safely and without fear, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

On May 11 and 12, Israeli warplanes bombed and destroyed the Al-Jawhara and Al-Shorouk office buildings in Gaza City, which house more than a dozen international and local media outlets, according to news reports, a statement by the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate, and Louay al-Ghoul, head of the syndicate in Gaza, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app.

Residents were warned to evacuate the Al-Jawhara building before the air strike, and planes fired two warning shots at the Al-Shorouk building before firing missiles, according to multiple news reports. CPJ could not immediately confirm whether any journalists were killed or injured in the attacks; those reports said that the buildings had been evacuated, but a report by the BBC stated that there had been unidentified “civilian deaths” in the Al-Jawhara strike.

“It is utterly unacceptable for Israel to bomb and destroy the offices of media outlets and endanger the lives of journalists, especially since Israeli authorities know where those media outlets are housed,” said CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa representative, Ignacio Miguel Delgado. “Israeli authorities must ensure that journalists can do their jobs safely without fear of being injured or killed.”

According to reports published by the affected outlets, Israeli planes destroyed the 12-story Al-Jawhara building, which housed the offices of:

• London-based Qatari broadcaster Al-Araby TV
• News website and newspaper Al-Etejah TV
• Pro-Fatah broadcaster Al-Kofiya TV
• Jordanian broadcaster Al-Mamlaka
• Pro-Hamas outlet Sabq24 News Agency
• News website Watania News Agency
• Media rights group Forum of Palestinian Journalists

The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate and news reports also stated that the building housed the offices of the broadcaster Al-Nujaba TV, affiliated with the Iraqi militia Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba; the state-owned broadcaster Syria TV; and the local photo agency APA Images. CPJ was unable to find any information published by those outlets concerning the airstrike.

The nearby office of the Qatari broadcaster Al-Jazeera was also damaged by the bombing of the Al-Jawhara building, according to the syndicate statement and a report by the broadcaster.

Israeli forces also bombed and destroyed the Al-Shorouk building, which housed the offices of:

• Hamas-affiliated broadcasters Al-Aqsa TV and Al-Aqsa Radio
• The media production company PMP
• The pro-Hamas broadcaster Al-Quds Today
• The Palestinian National Authority-affiliated newspaper Reuters.

  [Editors’ note: This article has been updated to include the IDF’s response to CPJ’s request for comment.]

  Via Committee to Protect Journalists

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  Bonus Video added by Informed Comment:

  MSNBC: “Israel’s ‘Credibility Problem’ Following Attack On Gaza AP Offices”