LONDON: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called on Israel to stop bombing buildings that house media offices on Tuesday, as well as to ensure journalists on the ground can safely report on the conflict.

“In less than a week, Israel has bombed the offices of at least 18 media outlets, and it’s difficult to reach any conclusion other than that the Israeli military wants to shut down news coverage of the suffering in Gaza,” said Ignacio Miguel Delgado, CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa representative.

“Israel must stop bombing the offices of news outlets and step up efforts to ensure that local and international journalists can work safely and freely,” he added.

On Monday, Israeli fighter jets bombed and damaged the Gaza city offices of Nawa Online Women Media Network, a news website affiliated with the women’s rights, and youth organization Filastiniyat, according to a report by the Skeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom.

Israeli forces did not give prior warning of the bombing, which reports say killed two civilians.

“According to the testimony of the building’s security guard, who survived miraculously, no prior warning was given and the building was bombed at 6 p.m.,” Wafa Abdel-Rahman, editor in chief of the Nawa Online Women Media Network, said.

She added that the outlet’s employees were unable to reach the remains of the office because of the damage inflicted in the bombing.

This comes less than a week after Israel brought down a building housing at least 17 international and local media outlets, including the Associated Press and Al-Jazeera.