Israeli Assault Will Continue ‘as Long as Needed,’ Netanyahu Says

The U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with Pruitt and “offered his unwavering support for independent journalists and media organizations around the world and noted the indispensability of their reporting in conflict zones,” according to spokesperson Ned Price.

“He expressed relief that the Associated Press team on the ground in Gaza remains safe.”

The Israeli military said, without evidence, that it destroyed the building because intelligence operatives within the Islamist militant group, Hamas, were using media offices as “human shields.”

Israeli soldiers take cover under armored vehicles as a siren sounds warning of incoming rockets fired from the Gaza Strip in a staging ground near the Gaza-Israel border (15/5/2021)

"AP's bureau has been in this building for 15 years. We have had no indication Hamas was in the building or active in the building," the news organization responded. "We would never knowingly put our journalists at risk."

Ongoing strikes

Hours earlier, another Israeli airstrike in a heavily populated refugee camp killed at least 10 Palestinians, primarily children. It was the deadliest single aerial attack since the violence began to intensify earlier this week.

Another strike killed at least two people, Palestinian health officials said.

Since the fighting began Monday, at least 145 Palestinians have been killed, including at least 41 children and 22 women, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. At least eight Israelis have been killed in the rocket attacks, including a 6-year-old child.

Egypt sent 10 ambulances into Gaza on Saturday to evacuate some of the nearly 1,100 Palestinians injured in the fighting. The Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza is the only border opening not controlled by Israel.

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Since Monday, Hamas and its allies have launched about 2,300 rockets from Gaza toward Israel, Reuters reported, quoting the Israeli military, which said about 1,000 rockets were intercepted and about 380 fell into the Gaza Strip.

Israel, meanwhile, said it has launched more than 1,000 air and artillery strikes into Gaza, Reuters said.

Israel has faced international criticism for civilian casualties during three previous wars in Gaza.

The recent violence is the biggest battle between the Palestinian militant group and Israeli forces since the 2014 war in Gaza. It was sparked by growing unrest over control of Jerusalem and attempts by Jewish settlers to take over Arab-controlled communities.