The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and journalists for press freedom, today condemned the destruction of the offices of Turkey’s Anadolu news agency in Gaza in an Israeli air strike on May 4.
The building housing Anadolu’s offices was hit by five rockets fired by Israeli warplanes as violence escalated in Gaza over the weekend. No one was reported injured. Israel has claimed Hamas intelligence offices were also located in the buidling.
The recent spate of clashes in Gaza began after two Israeli soldiers were injured in gunfire. At least 20 people have been killed and scores injured in the fighting. Hamas fired over 200 rockets into Israel, killing at least four people, while Israeli warplanes have hit 320 targets in Gaza.
“Journalists and media organizations are never acceptable targets in a conflict”, IPI Advocacy Director Ravi R. Prasad. “We condemn the destruction of Anadolu’s office in Gaza and we urge the Israsel Defence Forces and the government of Israel to refrain from any attacks on media organizations and to allow journalists to do their work without fear of being targeted.”