'World will know less' after Israeli forces demolish media building in Gaza

The Al Jalaa building, which houses Al Jazeera, Associated Press journalists and a number of other offices and apartments was targeted on Saturday.

The Al Jalaa building, which houses Al Jazeera, Associated Press journalists and a number of other offices and apartments has been hit in an airstrike Picture: RUPTLY

A building housing international journalists has been demolished in an airstrike by Israeli forces.

The Al Jalaa building, which houses Al Jazeera, Associated Press journalists and a number of other offices and apartments was targeted this Saturday.

The building was hit with four missiles from Israel Defense Forces, according to an Al Jazeera producer.

The strike was broadcast live on the media organisation's network.

⭕ LIVE footage of the moment an Israeli air raid bombed the offices of Al Jazeera and The Associated Press in Gaza City ⬇️

🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/RvtP1lEX1x pic.twitter.com/RBO1ZiDAl0

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) May 15, 2021

The strike brought the entire 12-storey building down, collapsing with a gigantic cloud of dust.

The Associated Press said in a statement that the attack was "an incredibly disturbing development".

"We are shocked and horrified that the Israeli military would target and destroy the building housing AP’s bureau and other news organizations in Gaza," the media organisation said.  

"They have long known the location of our bureau and knew journalists were there. We received a warning that the building would be hit.

"We are seeking information from the Israeli government and are engaged with the U.S. State Department to try to learn more.

This is an incredibly disturbing development. We narrowly avoided a terrible loss of life. 

"A dozen AP journalists and freelancers were inside the building and thankfully we were able to evacuate them in time.

"The world will know less about what is happening in Gaza because of what happened today," the statement said.

The airstrike came approximately an hour after Israeli forces called the building's owner, warning of the attack and advising all to evacuate the premises.

The owner asked the Israeli office to give the media time to evacuate their equipment from the building, however this request was denied.

The strike comes just hours after another Israeli air raid on a densely populated refugee camp in Gaza City killed at least 10 Palestinians from an extended family, mostly children, in the deadliest single strike of the current conflict.

Additional reporting AP