that was gary pruitt, tell the story. that was gary pruitt. ceo _ tell the story.eo and president i tell the story. that was gary pruitt, ceo and president of| tell the story. that was gary - pruitt, ceo and president of the associated press. in central london, earlier today, thousands marched in solidarity with the palestinian people. a large crowd moved through hyde park to the israeli embassy. similar rallies have been held in other cities in the uk and elsewhere in the world. 0ur correspondent james waterhouse watched the protest at kensington high street. so this is the final destination for the protest, if you like, kensington high street. because of the ways the roads are designed, the israeli embassy for the exits further down to the left there down a private road, with police guard as you would expect with different kind of embassies, but that has not stopped people here wanting to be seen and heard. you speak to people here, they don't see it as a conflict, they don't see it as a conflict, they call it out and out oppression in terms of what is going on i

of the associated press news agency he joins us from their headquarters in new york gary pruitt welcome to al-jazeera a difficult day for your staff in gaza can you just share with us your thoughts at this time yes we were shocked the sworn into good news that our building was being targeted we had a short warning we were able to get our folks out to avoid a loss of life but then the building was leveled by an israeli missile. an organization such as yours mr pruitt i'm sure you do safety training quasar military training to make sure that your staff when they're in a dangerous situation know how to react to that the central accusation from the israeli army i have to ask you this pointless to prove the central accusation from the israeli army is that either in the building or very very close to that building there were how mass assets what do you say to that. we've heard that from the israelis i can tell you that we've been in that building for 50 about 15 years with our bureau we certainly had no sense that hamas was there we would like to see the evidence we're not sure whether hamas

gary pruitt, _ being with us. gary pruitt, president and ceo of associated press.london to march in solidarity with the palestinian people. a large crowd moved through hyde park to the israeli embassy. similar rallies have been held in other cities in the uk and elsewhere in the world. the headlines on bbc news: israeli warplanes destroy a gaza city tower block, which had been the headquarters for internationaljournalists. it was evacuated before the attack after an israeli warning. people in areas where the indian variant of coronavirus is spreading are urged to get a covid vaccination. wreath laying services have been held across the uk and around the world to mark the centenary of the royal british legion. testing for the coronavirus indian variant is being carried out in parts of scotland, london, the midlands, and also in the north west of england, where the government says the army is to be deployed to help with surge testing efforts. our health correspondent katherine da costa reports. out on the streets of bolton in greater manchester, this rapid response t

joining me on the phone right now is gary pruitt. of the news organizations with offices in that now obliterated building in gaza city. gary, thanks so much for being with us. i want to get to the most important question above everything else. are all of your people safe and accounted for right now? >> yes, they are. we have 12 people in the building. we have one-hour notice. they grabbed all the equipment they could and got out, and fortunately they are all safe tonight. >> well, i know everybody is thankful. i'm grateful for that. i'm curious if you can walk us through how you found out what happened. did you get a phone call? what was kind of the protocol, and how did you get everyone safely evacuated? >> right. so we did have one hours notice from the israeli military that they were going to target that building with a missile strike. we didn't know any other details, but we knew to get out. and our folks did then get out and the missile strike ensued and leveled the building. so we didn't get all our equipment out, but importantl

the president of the associated press gary pruitt says he's shocked and horrified by the attack. >> we narrowly escaped a huge loss of life. we had 12 journalists in that building. and those brave journalists not only got out but they were able to salvage much of our equipment because it's important that we continue to tell this story. >> reporter: before the attack, the owner of the building got a call from the israeli military warning they plan to strike his property. it appears everyone inside the building was able to get out in time. the israeli military says hamas was also using thisitary assets. they have not been very specific about what those assets were, but they insist this was a legitimate military target. according to "the times of israel" prime minister benjamin netanyahu is defending israel's military operation in gaza saying there is no more just or moral operation. he also noted the hostilities began when hamas rebels fired at jerusalem. this air strike in gaza is prompting outcries around the world. including in san francisco, where thousands turned out today for what'

of the news agency gary pruitt says the company only narrative boarded a loss of life and he told out there he would like to see proof that hamas had a presence in the building. i can tell you that we've been in that building for 15 about 15 years with our bureau we certainly had no sense that hamas was there we would like to see the evidence we're not sure whether hamas was there or not we don't know but i can tell you the impact will be that the world will know less about what's going on in gaza because that building was leveled it had great sightlines to show the world what was going on in gaza and that will be lost. across gaza families have been holding funerals for loved ones killed by israeli airstrikes many of them children nor about manley has more and a warning they are disturbing images from the beginning of her report. at the funeral of a child in the city of rafah in southern gaza i'm a woman in shock says only children playing with their toys mothers grandmothers and families left inconsolable yes it was. innocent victims of days of heavy israeli airstrikes and artillery

gary pruitt the c.e.o. of the associated press talking to us just a little bit earlier we've just flipped to our live pictures there for you from bethlehem you can see there. that's interesting it looks like a little laser light shining towards the camera. a scene replicating really what we've seen in the hours of daylight there in bethlehem you can see a medley of people lights flashing lights off there in the middle distance off into the distance. i'm just wondering if that tear gas being fired you know that looks like tear gas we've seen that there as well under the cover of darkness and also during the daylight hours as well so that's the latest from bethlehem and see the very close to the camera i suspect that's israeli military wandering around we've got a clear shot there was somebody were in combat fatigues and protective clothing you can see there and it's really contingent of the police officers the military will be the israeli army them moving from camera right to camera left and they're also com

the president of "the associated press," gary pruitt, says he is he a shocked and horrified by the attack. >> we narrowly escaped a huge loss of life. we had 12 journalists in that building. and those brave journalists not only got out but they were able to salvage much of our equipment, because it's important that we continue to tell this story. >> reporter: before the attack, the owner of the building got a call from the israeli military, warning they planned to strike his property. it appears, everyone inside the building was able to get out in time. the israeli military says hamas was, also, using this building to house military assets. they have not been very specific about what those assets were. but they insist, this was a legitimate-military target. according to "the times" of israel, prime minister benjamin netanyahu is defending israel's military operation in gaza. saying there is no more just or moral operation. he also noted the hostilities began when hamas rebels fired at jerusalem. this air strike in gaza is prompting outcries around the world. including, in san francisco, w

gary pruitt said this is an incredibly disturbing development we narrowly avoided a terrible loss of life a dozen 18 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 and now let's bring in jerusalem correspondent tinier kramer for more so i know you have been reporting on of that building in gaza brought down this afternoon and bring us up to date on what the israeli army is saying. well this early military released a statement shortly often i think i will quote from it they're saying that it has a quote contained military assets belonging to the intelligence offices off the hamas terror organization it continues saying that the building contains civilian media offices which hamas a used to hide behind and uses as human shields and that hamas deliberately that's a quote places military targets at the heart of densely populated areas in the gaza strip they're also stressed that they had given advance morning and had given sufficient time for

of a news agency gary pruitt says the company only narey avoided a loss of life. he said he would like to see proof that hamas had a presence in the building. i can tell you that we've been in that building for 50 about 15 years with our bureau we certainly had no sense that hamas was there we would like to see the evidence we're not sure whether hamas was there or not we don't know but i can tell you the impact will be that the world will know less about what's going on in gaza because that building was leveled it had great sightlines to show the world what was going on in gaza and that will be lost a 5 month old baby is the only survivor from an israeli airstrike on a house in the refugee camp in gaza baby omar is being treated in hospital for a broken leg i and fro 2 injuries and bruising his mother and 4 siblings all died in the attack and on with 5 other relatives they'd been visiting family for each set of nations do stay with us the fans who make football is up next well news for you after that to stay with us and obviously if you can thanks very much for w

of the news agency gary pruitt says the company only narrowly avoided a loss of life he told others there you would like to see proof that hamas had a presence in the building. i can tell you that we've been in that building for 50 about 15 years with our bureau we certainly had no sense that hamas was there we would like to see the evidence we're not sure whether hamas was there or not we don't know but i can tell you the impact will be that the world will know less about what's going on in gaza because that building was leveled it had great sightlines to show the world what was going on in gaza and that will be lost. a 5 month old baby is the only survivor from an israeli airstrike on a house in the shuttle refugee camp in gaza baby omar is being treated in hospital for a broken leg ah and throat injuries and bruising his mother and 4 siblings all died in the attack along with 5 other relatives they were visiting relatives for each celebrations dozens more rockets have been fired from gaza into israel one man was killed when a rocket exploded in a street in the suburb of tel aviv nearby

of the news agency gary pruitt says the company only narrative boarded a loss of life and he told our visitor he would like to see proof that hamas had a presence in the building up i can tell you that we've been in that building for 50 about 15 years with our bureau we certainly had no sense that hamas was there we would like to see the evidence we're not sure whether hamas was there or not we don't know but i can tell you the impact will be that the world will know less about what's going on in gaza because that building was leveled it had great sightlines to show the world what was going on in gaza and that will be lost across gaza families have been holding funerals for loved ones killed by israeli airstrikes many of them children nor about manly has more than a warning there are disturbing images from the beginning of her report. at the funeral of a child in the city of rafah in southern gaza was that a woman in shock says only children playing with their toys mothers grandmothers and families left inconsolable yes it was. innocent victims of days of heavy israeli airstrikes and

gary pruitt he's called 'd on the israeli government to put forward the evidence that they have he said that a peace bureau has been in this building for 15 years that they've had no indication hamas was in the building or active in the building my colleagues up at the hill and in gaza has said that there was no indication that hamas was in the building is it not a reasonable thing to ask the israeli government to produce the evidence that they have that they say show is that how mass was in that building. i mean i find it very hard to believe that someone of the a.p. stature would not have not and that they're operating right and. right by us from us as nice as 'd us has been there for a number of years now the questions we should be asking is why any jonathans of the questions that any decent professional journalists also do not ask is why from us was operating and why were they willing to try quis so that for their sons i believe there is ample evidence evidence that that israel has certainly i believe shared with the united states administration but it is known for fact that this wa

gary pruitt said -- we are shocked and horrifyied they wil long known the -- and knew journalists were there . into silenced. we can guarantee you that right now. >> reporter: well, al jazeera and associated press will not be aisleented, but they're now homeless. now, of course -- now the israeli military has said the reason why they struck that building is that it contained some sort of offices affiliated with a hamas israel does not have to bring down the entire building, they have technology to nod do that. and keep in mind, jim, when you destroy an entire building, this is gaza. there are buildings further of people all around it we spoke to someone who said even though everything in side was destroyed. this is just one small aspect. the death toll continue to say rise the fighting continues. >> it certainly does, ben. we heard what sounded like activity behind you just a few moments ago. please stay safe. congressional leaders have struck a deal for a 9/11-style commission, a news coming after a -- cnn's ryan nobles has details. >> reporter: the house republican conference present

in the aftermath of this attack, gary pruitt, the chief executive of the associated press, put out ament in which he says -- 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. also very soon after the building collapsed, an al jazeera english anchor had this to say. >> this channel will not be silenced. al jazeera will not be silenced. we can guarantee you that right now. now the israelis saying the building contained -- or there were offices of some research and development unit. that's why the building was struck. now, i can tell you, as somebody who has covered this conflict for decades, i can remember going back to the summer of 2001, i was in ramallah just down the street from a building where a very specific office was hit on one floor. the rest of the building was unharmed. there's no secret that the israelis have the technology to specifically target a room in a building. why they would take down t

nick mentioned the comment from the ap ceo gary pruitt saying the world will know less about what's happening in gaza tomorrow because of what happened today. they are saying that was the purpose of this bombing, quote, the aim of this heinous crime is to silence the media and to hide the untold carnage and suffering of the people of gaza. al jazeera taking a position in sympathy or solidarity with the people of gaza and demanding that this crime in their words be investigated. let me show you how journalism and advocacy groups are reacting by this move by the israeli forces. this is executive director joel simon saying today we demand the israeli government provide a detailed and documented justification for this attack given the possible violation of international humanitarian law. i think the obvious question that comes told is, what were the israelis supposed to do? if they are sure, if they had intelligence that can be vetted that hamas was using the news bureaus as a shield a hiding place, what were the israelis supposed to do? conversely, you're going to hear a lot of calls, as you see

later tonight, i'll be getting more information on that air strike from gary pruitt, the president andbout that coming up a little bit later. >>> you are in the "cnn newsroom." and up next, history rewritten. an anti-trump rebel's exile, as the republican party purges anyone bold enough to speak the truth. i'll ask former republican congressman francis rooney if he still recognizes his own party. he joins us next. keeping your oysters business growing has you swamped. you need to hire. i need indeed indeed you do. the moment you sponsor a job on indeed you get a shortlist of quality candidates from a resume data base claim your seventy-five-dollar credit when you post your first job at indeed.com/promo dignity. it demands a rapid covid test, because we all deserve an answer. it demands your heart stays connected to your doctor, so you know it's beating as it should. and a rapid test to help evaluate concussion, in case something were to happen. at abbott, we fight for these moments, developing life-changing technologies. because dignity demands it. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ look, if your wireless carrie

here's what gary pruitt said about the situation. >> we did have one hour's notice from the israeli militaryolks then did get out, and the missile strike ensued and leveled the building. we didn't get all of our equipment out, but importantly we got all of the people out. our bureau, our offices where we had operated for 15 years in gaza were completely destroyed. >> pruitt also saying that the world will know less about what's happening in gaza, as a result of the demolishing of this building. other news outlets have other offices elsewhere in gaza. there are concerns among reporter advocacy groups that are not safe either. all downstreamed from this broader and disturbing situation, the hostilities were seeing in the middle east right now, and whenever the press seems to be targeted, it raises questions about some side trying to block out the story from getting out. israel has been very clear saying this was a legitimate target because they believe hamas was in the building and operating in the building. we are seeing the group like the committee to protect journalists, show the proof, the

in the next hour, i'll be getting some more information on that air strike from gary pruitt, he's the president and ceo of the associated press so we hope to learn some more details there. meantime, the deteriorating situation in the middle east brings a fresh challenge to the biden administration. as mahmoud abbas asking president biden to intervene. abou arlette saenz joins me now with the latest. we know that president biden spoke with the israeli prime minister today. what can you tell us about that conversation? >> reporter: president biden spent most of the day here at the white house, where he was working the phones, having separate phone calls with israeli prime minister netanyahu and president mahmoud abbas of the palestinian authority. and what the president is trying to do in this moment is really strike a delicate and tricky balance in extending support for israel's right to defend itself, but also trying to express some concern about the palestinian people. now, i want to read you one of the readouts that the white house provided of the president's phone call with prime m

the president of the associated press, gary pruitt, saying he is shocked and horrified at his organization's building being targeted. he said in a statement this is an incredibly disturbing development. we narrowly avoided a terrible loss of life. the world will know less about what is happening in gaza because of what happens today. now, this strike, one of just a number that israel has carried out in the last 24 hours. last night a strike on a refugee camp targeting according to the israeli military a hamas figure, killed eight children. so we now have nearly 40 kids dead in gaza, h 140 people killed in total, on the israeli side nine people are dead including an israeli man killed earlier today by a rocket just in the last hour. israel confirms it has targeted the home of the deputy political leader of hamas. now, it does not appear that they were actually kill him or that they did kill him in the strike. it seems this is more about sending a message to hamas leadership, we know where you are. we can target you. the big question is, will those tactics push hamas toward a cease-fire or lea

of the news agency gary pruitt says the company any narrative voided a loss of life and he told us he would like to see proof that hamas had a presence in the building. i can tell you that we've been in that building for 15 about 15 years with our bureau we certainly had no sense that hamas was there we would like to see the evidence we're not sure whether hamas was there or not we don't know but i can tell you the impact will be that the world will know less about what's going on in gaza because that building was leveled it had great sightlines to show the world what was going on in gaza and that will be lost. returned to the scene of the destroyed media building shortly after it was struck we are back to our destroyed 1st photo reporting here our colleagues even people who used to live in this place. started to collect or look for for some. important things including equipment including important. things after out of the building is thought that liquid love. that is that an air strike is intensified since the early afternoon also the palestinian fighting groups are intensifying thei