JERUSALEM, Dec 2: Israel must provide an “immediate and detailed explanation” for its targeting of journalists and media buildings during last month’s Gaza conflict, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Sunday.

In a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the watchdog said it was “gravely concerned that Israeli airstrikes targeted individual journalists and media facilities in the Gaza Strip between November 18 and 20.”

The New-York based CPJ noted that two cameramen for Hamas's Al-Aqsa television station and the director of the private Al-Quds Educational Radio were killed by Israel during its eight-day military campaign to halt rocket fire from Gaza.

At least three media buildings, including one housing AFP's Gaza office, were hit during the conflict.

“Israeli officials have broadly asserted that the individuals and facilities had connections to terrorist activity but have disclosed no substantiation for these very serious allegations,” the letter reads.

The group says it has made repeated requests to Israel's military and defence ministry seeking explanations.

“We request your government provide an immediate and detailed explanation for its actions,” CPJ executive director Joel Simon wrote.

Netanyahu's spokesman Mark Regev said Israel would reply to the CPJ's letter via Israel's US ambassador.—AFP