Just to silence the media

Israel is continually attacking on the Gaza Strip since Monday have killed 139 people, including 39 children, 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 (“Israel demolishes media outlets in Gaza tower,” May 15, Gulf Today).

Israel pummelled the Gaza Strip with air strikes on Saturday, killing 10 members of an extended family and demolishing building housing international media outlets.

Israel should be held accountable for this heinous crime that is to silence the media and to hide the untold carnage and suffering of the people of Gaza. It is a shameful act by Israel to attack media as balls of flame thrust into the sky on Saturday afternoon as Israel’s air force flattened a 13-floor Gaza building housing Qatar-based Al Jazeera and the Associated Press (AP) news agency, after giving a warning to evacuate.

I am totally agree with Al Jazeera’s Jerusalem bureau chief, Walid Al Omari, that, “It is clear that those who are waging this war do not only want to spread destruction and death in Gaza, but also to silence media that are witnessing, documenting and reporting the truth,”

The owner of the Jala Tower Jawad Mehdi said an Israeli intelligence officer had told him he had just an hour evacuate the building.

An international network of journalists and media executives “vehemently” condemn the Israeli airstrike on a Gaza City building housing media offices.  

The AP said it was “horrified” by the strike, while the White House said it had told the Israelis that “the safety and security of journalists and independent media is a paramount responsibility.”

Thousands of protesters marched in support of Palestinians on Saturday in major European cities including London, Berlin, Madrid and Paris, as the worst violence in years raged between Israel and militants in Gaza.

Hundreds of demonstrators have gathered in cities across Iraq to stand in solidarity with Palestinians.

Abu Ali
By email