Blast hits offices of Al-Arabiya TV in Gaza

Offices of Al-Arabiya TV channel in Gaza was rocked by huge explosion on Monday night, causing no casualties, witnesses said.

Unknown militants detonated a bomb and destroyed the entrance of the Saudi Arabian al-Arabiya Satellite Television on the 12th floor of one of Gaza City buildings, witnesses said.

The witnesses also said that a huge explosion was heard on the 12th floor, adding that it was a result of a bomb that was detonated at the entrance of the channel's Gaza bureau.

Security forces as well as ambulances and firefighters arrived at the scene. No injuries were reported, because there was nobody into the office, but severe damage was caused to the door of the flat, where the al-Arabiya bureau is.

The 15-floor building in Gaza City's downtown contains also bureaus of several Arab and international television networks, as well as news agencies and local Radio stations.

The security sources said that no one was present into al- Arabiya bureau on the 12th floor, after the reporters and employees at the office had received phone calls threats from unknown individuals few days ago.

Al-Arabia Satellite Television station broadcasted a week ago a recorded sound of Hamas-led government Premier Ismail Haneya, saying that "even if Allah (God) gave us orders, would never make concessions."

Hamas movement's spokesmen had immediately condemned the broadcast of the recorded sound, and denied that Haneya had made such statements. The movement vowed to sue the Saudi Arabian Channel based in Dubai.

The police and security forces opened immediate investigation following the attack, which was considered by local journalists and reporters as "a very dangerous action against journalists and journalism."