Israel jets pummeled the Gaza Strip with a barrage of missiles, destroying a 12-storey building housing the offices of the U.S.-based Associated Press and other news media, Reuters reported Sunday.

The Al-Jalaa building in Gaza City, which also houses the offices Arab satellite channel Al Jazeera as well as other offices and apartments, received advanced warning from the Israeli military of the airstrike, giving building occupants one hour to evacuate, the report said.

Although no one was injured, the strike destroyed an office that was like a second home for AP journalists and marked a new episode in the already shaky relationship between Israel's military and the international media.

According to AP, moments before the strike, it placed urgent calls to Israel's military officials, foreign minister and prime minister's office but were either ignored or told there was nothing to be done.

The Israeli military said the demolition by its warplanes was carried out because the building "contained military assets belonging to the intelligence offices of the Hamas terror organization," Deadline reported.

AP called Saturday's attack "shocking and horrifying." A Palestinian journalist was hurt in the attack, Palestinian media said, and shrapnel and debris flew dozens of yards away.

Calls grew for a ceasefire after five days of fighting that have killed at least 145 Palestinians in Gaza - including 23 women and 41 children. Eight died on the Israeli side, all but one of them civilians, including a 5-year-old, ABC News reported.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the building was used by Hamas military intelligence. "It was not an innocent building," he said.

In a statement, Dr. Mostefa Souag, acting director general of Al Jazeera Media Network, called the airstrike "barbaric" and said Israel should be held responsible.

"The aim of this heinous crime is to silence the media and to hide the untold carnage and suffering of the people of Gaza," Reuters quoted Souag as saying.