CPJ – On May 11 and 12, Israeli warplanes bombed and destroyed the Al-Jawhara and Al-Shorouk office buildings in Gaza City, which house more than a dozen international and local media outlets, according to news reports, a statement by the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate, and Louay al-Ghoul, head of the syndicate in Gaza, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app.
According to reports published by the affected outlets, Israeli planes destroyed the 12-story Al-Jawhara building, which housed the offices of:
- London-based Qatari broadcaster Al-Araby TV
- News website and newspaper Felestin (Palestine)
- Kata’eb Hezbollah-affiliated Iraqi broadcaster Al-Etejah TV
- Pro-Fatah broadcaster Al-Kofiya TV
- Jordanian broadcaster Al-Mamlaka
- Pro-Hamas outlet Sabq24 News Agency
- News website Al-Bawaba 24
- Production company Watania News Agency
- Media rights group Forum of Palestinian Journalists
The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate and news reports also stated that the building housed the offices of the broadcaster Al-Nujaba TV, affiliated with the Iraqi militia Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba; the state-owned broadcaster Syria TV; and the local photo agency APA Images. CPJ was unable to find any information published by those outlets concerning the airstrike.
The nearby office of the Qatari broadcaster Al-Jazeera was also damaged by the bombing of the Al-Jawhara building, according to the syndicate statement and a report by the broadcaster.
Israeli forces also bombed and destroyed the Al-Shorouk building, which housed the offices of:
- Hamas-affiliated broadcasters Al-Aqsa TV and Al-Aqsa Radio
- The media production company PMP
- The pro-Hamas broadcaster Al-Quds Today
- The Palestinian National Authority-affiliated newspaper Al-Hayat al-Jadida
The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate also stated that Taiff Media was located in that building, but CPJ could not immediately confirm the details of that company’s work.
