AP shared a building with Hamas and didn't know it, they say

A news organization is supposed to sniff out news, at least one assumes that notion. So it's more than ironic the Associated Press (AP) would be clueless that the building in which they were based in Gaza was also occupied by Hamas terrorists, as the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pointed out as to explain why they destroyed it in an airstrike.

It took people from Israel, another country, to point that out to the geniuses at the AP, that  their co-tenants were Hamassholes, as if they didn't know it.

AP President and CEO Gary Pruitt proudly admitted his company's lack of research when they rented out the joint, and said in a statement:

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. They have long known the location of our bureau and knew journalists were there. We received a warning that the building would be hit. [That's a key issue. Hamas never gives a warning to the Jewish children and adults they target in Israel.]

The Israeli government says the building contained Hamas military intelligence assets. We have called on the Israeli government to put forward the evidence. 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. This is something we actively check to the best of our ability. We would never knowingly put our journalists at risk. [Unless Hamas invited them there and maybe even gave them a break on the rent.]

We are seeking information from the Israeli government and are engaged with the U.S. State Department to try to learn more. [Because they don't know much of anything, it appears.]

Israel struck the building as Hamas fired hundreds of rockets at Israeli civilians on Saturday. The majority were intercepted by the Iron Dome system, but at least one Israeli died near Tel Aviv.

The IDF tweeted: 

After providing advance warning to civilians & time to evacuate, IDF fighter jets struck a multi-story building containing Hamas military intelligence assets.
The building contained civilian media offices, which Hamas hides behind and deliberately uses as human shields. pic.twitter.com/zeDjEquePD

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 15, 2021

Prime Minister Netanyahu said the building was used by Hamas intelligence: “It was not an innocent building.”

More than any other country, Israel takes extreme precaution to reduce collateral damage; Hamas, not so much. The AP and the "Jihad Journal" known as Al Jazeera were given a warning to clear out before the building was destroyed.

On Sunday morning local time, the IDF followed up with additional tweets about the building:

Yesterday, we targeted an important base of operations for Hamas' military intel in Al Jala Tower in Gaza. 

The base gathered intel for attacks against Israel, manufactured weapons & positioned equipment to hamper IDF operations.
(1/3)
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 16, 2021

We warned civilians in the building about our strike out of concern for their safety & gave them enough time to safely evacuate.

Hamas & Islamic Jihad used this time to take items out of the building. We were willing to pay that price to not harm any civilians.

(2/3) 

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 16, 2021

Hamas chooses to hide among civilians as it carries out attacks against Israel.
This choice does not grant Hamas terrorists immunity from IDF strikes.
We will continue to operate in order to defend the people of Israel.
(3/3)
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) May 16, 2021

The Associated Press (AP) called the attack, “shocking and horrifying.” Hopefully Hamas felt the same way.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki tweeted:

We have communicated directly to the Israelis that ensuring the safety and security of journalists and independent media is a paramount responsibility.

— Jen Psaki (@PressSec) May 15, 2021

She forgot to mention the same thing to the Palestinians.

Noah Pollak, executive director of the Democratic Alliance Initiative, said the AP knew Hamas occupied the building [and thus were lying about it]:

Spoke to a well-placed friend in the IDF just now. The bombed AP office building contained multiple Hamas operations & offices including weapons manufacturing and military intelligence. The building also housed an Islamic Jihad office. And AP's local reporters knew about it.

— Noah Pollak (@NoahPollak) May 15, 2021

As it turned out, no so-called journalists were hurt in the attack, but the destruction likely destroyed AP anti-Zionist propaganda.

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