After speaking with Biden, Netanyahu suggests Israel’s assault in Gaza will persist

The Biden administration has “communicated directly to the Israelis that ensuring the safety and security of journalists and independent media is a paramount responsibility,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki wrote in a tweet on Saturday.

The president of the Associated Press, in a statement Saturday, said a dozen AP journalists and freelancers evacuated the building before the strike, but a “terrible loss of life” was narrowly avoided even with advance warning from Israel that the building would be hit.

“We are shocked and horrified that the Israeli military would target and destroy the building housing AP’s bureau and other news organizations in Gaza,” said AP President and CEO Gary Pruitt. “They have long known the location of our bureau and knew journalists were there. We received a warning that the building would be hit.”

“This is an incredibly disturbing development,” Pruitt said of the airstrike.

Al Jazeera’s director general accused Israel of trying to silence the media and condemned the airstrike as a war crime, calling on the international community to hold Israel accountable.

“The destruction of Al Jazeera offices and that of other media organizations in al-Jalaa tower in Gaza is a blatant violation of human rights and is internationally considered a war crime,” said Dr. Mostefa Souag, acting director general of Al Jazeera Media Network, in an article posted on the news agency’s website.

“We call on the international community to condemn such barbaric actions and targeting of journalists and we demand an immediate international action to hold Israel accountable for its deliberate targeting of journalists and the media institutions,” Souag said.

“The aim of this heinous crime is to silence the media and to hide the untold carnage and suffering of the people of Gaza,” Souag said.

At least 139 people have been killed, including 39 children, in Gaza. And in Israel, eight people have been killed as conflict escalates.

Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in a statement Saturday called for a “full accounting of actions that have led to civilian deaths and destruction of media outlets.”

“All political and military leaders have a responsibility to uphold the rules and laws of war and it is of the utmost importance for all actors to find ways to deescalate and reduce tensions,” he said. “This violence must end.”

— Reuters and Associated Press contributed reporting

Article source: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/15/biden-speaks-to-israeli-palestinian-leaders-as-violence-escalates.html