BBC Reporter In Gaza Calls Off Interview As Israeli Strikes Land Nearby
BBC journalist Rushdi Abu Alouf’s live on air report was cut short, interrupted by a dangerously close explosion as Israeli strikes pummelled Gaza.
Alouf was reporting from the rooftop of the broadcaster’s Gaza headquarters and speaking to BBC News host Maryam Moshiri when the missile crashed just just behind him, causing him to duck and wince in shock.
Hearing the blast, Ms. Moshiri expressed her concern: “That sounds like it was quite close to you, Rushdi”.
Alouf attempted, then, to fix his earpiece as Moshiri’s spoke from the studio, her words seemingly delayed.
The reporter also observed that the blast sounded “quite close.”
Concerned Mohsiri asked: “Are you okay to stay where you are or would you like to move?”
Alouf agreed: “I think we should move.”
The reporters ended the interview and retreated from the scene.
Dramatic footage posted minutes later online by the team showed the building that had been hit collapse.
On Sunday, the Israeli government officially declared war in response to a surprise attack by Hamas, authorising significant military actions. This development followed as the military ramped up its efforts to neutralise fighters in the southern Israeli towns and began an intense barrage of retaliatory airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.
