Explosion Hits Media Offices in Gaza

[tekisui]

Source: Reuters

GAZA (Reuters) - An explosion blasted a tower block in the city of Gaza that houses the offices of Reuters and other media organizations Thursday, forcing an evacuation and disrupting coverage of increasingly fierce fighting.

Colleagues said two journalists working for international broadcasters in an office two floors above Reuters were wounded.

Reuters journalists who were in the building at the time said they believed an Israeli missile struck the southern side of the 13th floor of the Al-Shurouq Tower in the city center.

Israeli army spokesmen, who had been in touch with Reuters shortly before the blast to confirm the location of the bureau in Gaza, said they were looking into what had happened.

Reuters evacuated its bureau on the 12th floor after shrapnel penetrated the newsroom, causing no injuries.

A camera in the office that had provided non-stop live images of the Gaza cityscape throughout the war briefly continued to function, but later ceased transmission -- possibly because of a fire that other cameras in the area showed pouring smoke from the upper floors of the 16-storey building.

The wounded journalists were working on the 14th floor. The floor below that houses a local television production company.

Reuters journalists on the spot said they had not been aware of the presence of any armed men in the building beforehand.

(snip)

In Jerusalem, the Foreign Press Association demanded the Israeli army desist from firing in the area.

"We call on the military to halt this fire immediately," it said. "These are buildings housing journalists working for international news agencies and must not be targeted.

"We note that these buildings are well known landmarks in Gaza and that the IDF has been clearly notified of their location on several occasions," the FPA statement added.

more: http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE50E2K120090115

[bobd0]

1. War crimes can't be reported on if you make sure you commit against reporters too. nt

[bunnies]

2. Again?

Gee. Im shocked.

[azurnoir]

3. So now we just have to take IDFs word for it? n/t

[tekisui]

4. I think that has been the plan all along.

They have bombed UN schools, headquarters, foreign-run hospitals, journalists, blocked the ICRC. It seems they want ALL foreign eyes out of Gaza.

[azurnoir]

5. That's scary n/t

[dixiegrrrrl]

6. Journalists have been targeted in Iraq and Afghanistan..

by American military, no less.
Absolutely sending a message.

[Barack_America]

7. When losing a media war, declare war on the media.

Israel has learned much from their neocon sympathizers (or perhaps the other way around).