Israel flattens media building in Gaza, destroying offices of Associated Press, other outlets

The Israeli military destroyed a Gaza building on Saturday containing the offices of several international media outlets including those of the Associated Press and Al Jazeera, both organizations confirmed following the strike.

The Israeli Defense Forces airstrike leveled Jala Tower in Gaza, flattening the building "that house[d] Al Jazeera and other international media outlets in Gaza City," Al Jazeera said in a tweet on Saturday morning.

The Associated Press, meanwhile, confirmed in a news report that the building that had been destroyed "housed offices of The Associated Press and other media outlets."

Video circulated on social media of the building being hit by the airstrike and later collapsing.

The IDF reportedly warned the building's inhabitants of the impending airstrike, after which the building was evacuated prior to the hit. 

Israel and Gaza continue to be rocked by violence and unrest as both the Israeli Defense Forces and Hamas trade rockets, missiles and ground combat in escalating acts of retaliation.