PARIS, January 16, 2009 (WAFA)- Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called on the Israeli military to investigate and explain exactly how a 16-storey building in Gaza City that houses several news organisations including Reuters came to be hit by an explosion this morning.
 
An Abu Dhabi TV journalist and a Reuters cameraman were injured in the blast that shook the Al-Shurouq Tower. It was not immediately known whether the explosion was the result of a missile or a shell fired by a tank.
 
Reuters said an Israeli army spokesman contacted the news agency’s Jerusalem bureau shortly before the explosion to verify the location of its Gaza bureau. Reuters had informed the Israeli army of the exact location at the start of the war and was assured by the Israelis on several occasions that it would not be a target.
 
Reporters Without Borders has written to the Israeli army high command asking it to shed light on the circumstances of today’s incident. The press freedom organisation points out that, under international humanitarian law, news media must be given the same protection as civilians.