Demand for evidence Hamas operated in media building destroyed by airstrike

The Associated Press is demanding Israel provide evidence Hamas was operating out of a media building destroyed by an airstrike overnight.

It was one of several buildings flattened in the latest round of violence in Gaza with people inside the structure able to escape in time because of a warning from the Israeli military.

“We narrowly avoided a terrible loss of life,” the Associate Press’ president said in a statement.

“A dozen AP journalists and freelancers were inside the building and thankfully we were able to evacuate them in time.

“The world will know less about what is happening in Gaza because of what happened today.”

US President Joe Biden has tried to ease tensions in the region – reaching out to both Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mr Netanyahu said Israel was doing everything it could to avoid harming civilians.

“That’s why you don’t hear of casualties from these collapsing terror towers, because we take special care to avoid these civilian casualties – exactly the opposite of Hamas,” Mr Netanyahu said.

At least 140 people have been killed in Gaza and 10 in Israel since fighting began on Monday.