Israel’s UN envoy to AP: Hamas sought to jam Iron Dome from your Gaza media tower

Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan tells top Associated Press executives the Gaza media tower leveled by Israel last month, which housed AP offices, was being used by Hamas to obstruct the Iron Dome missile defense system.

He also suggests Israel could help the international news agency rebuild its offices in the coastal enclave.

Erdan says he went to AP’s New York office on Monday “to explain to top executives that the building housing their Gaza operation was being used by Hamas terrorists trying to jam the Iron Dome – that is why it was prioritized [as a target] by the IDF during last month’s operation.”

“AP is one of the most important news agencies in the world and Israel does not suspect its employees were aware a covert Hamas unit was using the building in this way,” tweets Erdan. “Israel did everything to ensure no employees or civilians were hurt during this operation. In contrast, Hamas is a genocidal terrorist organization that purposely places its terror machine in civilian areas, including in buildings being used by international media outlets.”

“I reaffirmed that Israel upholds the importance of press freedom and strives to ensure the safety of journalists wherever they are reporting. Israel is willing to assist AP in rebuilding its offices and operations in Gaza,” adds the ambassador.

The Israeli strike on the tower was widely condemned. The AP denied knowledge of any Hamas presence in the building.