Fawzi Barhoum, spokesman of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas, denied that his movement had any offices in Al Jalaa Building.

“We absolutely deny the Israeli occupation claims that Hamas had offices in Al Jalaa Building,” he said.

He added: “We stress that these are false claims and an attempt to justify the crime of targeting a civilian facility that included media offices for international channels such as Al Jazeera and the American Associated Press, in addition to residential apartments.”

Meanwhile, he stressed: “Targeting Al Jalaa Building is part of a series of war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed by the Israeli occupation against civilians. This is similarly like targeting homes, residential neighbourhoods and civil institutions.”