AFP Gaza office hit by Israeli strike 3 Palestinian reporters killed in other attacks

AFP Gaza office hit by Israeli strike, 3 Palestinian reporters killed in other attacks

Source: Russia Today

http://rt.com/news/gaza-israel-attacks-journalists-killed-196/

Israel struck media offices in Gaza twice on Tuesday and killed three Palestinian journalists. The IDF claimed the buildings, which included an AFP bureau, were being used by Hamas to direct military operations, and were legitimate targets.

Two Israeli strikes have left three Palestinian journalists dead, with media buildings targeted by the IDF two days in a row. The AFP building was hit in another attack later on, with no casualties reported.

Mahmoud al-Koumi and Husam Salameh, cameramen for the local al-Aqsa TV station, were killed in a car marked with a press sign near the al-Wihda towers in Gaza.

Both journalists were 30 years old and fathers of four children. Two other al-Aqsa employees were wounded in the first strike.

The second attack killed the director of al-Quds Educational Radio, Muhammad Abu Aisha, in his car.

Then, the AFP building in Gaza was hit, with no casualties reported so far.

A series of massive explosions, followed by a massive blackout, were also reported near the Al Shorook building in Gaza, which houses several media outlets.

Later on, airstrikes targeted two hotels in Gaza where reporters covering the Israeli assault were staying. There were no reports of deaths, but Press TV correspondent Akram al-Sattari was injured. Hugh Naylor of The National newspaper told Ma'an news agency said the blasts blew out windows in the Deira and Beach hotels.

Meanwhile, the IDF posted on its Twitter that its air forces “surgically targeted a Hamas operations center on the 7th floor of a media building in Gaza”, with a “direct hit confirmed.” The IDF also tweeted a warning to all journalists to stay away from Hamas facilities within Gaza territory, claiming that the group will use them as human shields.

The al-Qassam Brigades have responded with a “Warning to Israelis: Stay away from Israeli #IDF = #IOF, We just targeting Israeli soldiers, fighter jets, tanks and bases."