Israel’s military faced war crime accusations Tuesday after carrying out an airstrike that completely destroyed a high-rise apartment building in densely populated Gaza City, prompting a massive barrage of retaliatory rocket fire as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to further escalate violence that has already left over 30 people – almost all of them Palestinians – dead. <\/p>\n
Israeli media<\/a> and a United Nations official report<\/a> residents of the 13-story apartment building in the Al-Rimal neighborhood of western Gaza City were repeatedly warned – including by telephone and a “roof-knocking” airstrike – of the impending attack, which occurred around 8:30 pm local time. <\/p>\n Video of the Israeli strike shows multiple explosions followed by the tower’s collapse. International observers promptly noted that the deliberate destruction of homes when not “imperatively demanded by the necessities of war” is a war crime<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dozens of Palestinian families were left without homes following the attack. It was not immediately clear if the building was completely evacuated, or if there were any casualties from the strike. <\/p>\n NOW – IDF continues bombing campaign on targets in Gaza despite the latest warning issued by the Hamas military wing. Hanadi Tower, a 13-story building in Gaza City, just collapsed.pic.twitter.com\/eJxYaiOtnK<\/a><\/p>\n – Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) May 11, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n