According to Channel 12, prior to the strike people in the building received several warnings, including phone calls and messages, telling them to leave and a preliminary “roof-knocking” strike — using a small missile to strike the roof with minimal damage in order to cause all inside to leave before a major strike.

Hamas earlier threatened to launch long-range rockets at Tel Aviv should Israel continue airstrikes in residential areas. Channel 12 says the group was apparently referring to the high-rise in question.

It is not yet clear why Israel targeted the building. The network reports it apparently served as the home for many terror operatives, including some released by Israel during the 2011 Gilad Shalit prisoner exchange.

In videos from the scene, the building can be seen being enveloped in dense smoke before collapsing:

طائرات الاحتلال تدمّر برج هنادي غربي مدينة غزة

الحمد الله ربنا سلم pic.twitter.com/Qc5DRznZ7F

— عايدة 🍃 (@a00598) May 11, 2021

Source: TOI