In two seconds, everything vanished: Al Jazeera correspondent 

Al Jazeera's Safwat al-Kahlout reacted to the destruction of the building housing, among others, the offices of Al Jazeera Media Network in Gaza City.

"I have been working here for 11 years. I have been covering many events from this building, we have lived personal professional experiences now everything, in two seconds, just vanished," he said.

"All my colleagues, despite the sadness, they didn't stop a second – they were looking for an alternative just to keep Al Jazeera on top of the news."

Al Jazeera's Harry Fawcett, who has extensively reported from Gaza City, added: "This is a very personal moment for all of us. The idea that the place is not there any more is extraordinary to contemplate."

An Israeli airstrike destroyed a Gaza building that has housed international media offices including Al Jazeera, The Associated Press and other media outlets on Saturday, the latest step by the military to silence reporting from the territory amid its battle with the militant group Hamas.

The strike came nearly an hour after the military ordered people to evacuate the building, which also housed Al-Jazeera, other offices and residential apartments. 

The strike brought the entire 12-story building down, collapsing with a gigantic cloud of dust. There was no immediate explanation for why it was attacked.