Reporter screams and ducks for cover as rocket hits live on air

A reporter screamed and ducked for cover as a large explosion went off just behind as she reported from Gaza City.

Hamas launched an attack on Israel over the weekend, with Israeli media reporting that at least 300 people were killed, including 26 soldiers, during the attack, prompting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to say they were at ‘war’ as the country launched a military response.

Reporting on the conflict for Al Jazeera was journalist Youmna El Sayed who was out in Gaza.

Sayed - who was wearing a helmet and safety vest - told viewers that a ‘barrage of rockets’ had been launched into Gaza seconds before a huge fireball erupted behind her, forcing her to scream and duck down.

She then managed to turn around to see the source of the explosion, which is believed to be a residential building.

From inside the studio, the news reporter calmly urged: “Please take cover. If you are in a position to do so safely you can explain to us what is happening. If you are not in a position to do so safely then please get to safety.”

To which she replied: “No it's OK. This is a missile attack on a Palestine tower, right in the middle of Gaza City.”

Al Jazeera

As Sayed struggled to gain her composure, her studio colleague said: “Take a moment to breathe, you and your team... We are hours into this war between Gaza and Israel.

“We have just witnessed live what an Israeli raid looks like on a populated area of Gaza city - what we believe is a residential building.

“What you're looking at right now is a live shot of Gaza City and Hamas launched an attack in and around the Israeli territory around the Gaza Strip - well, Israel retaliated by bombarding multiple targets in Gaza.”

Al Jazeera

He then added that he and his team were all ‘a little bit shaken’ by what they had seen.

Earlier today, it was confirmed that a British citizen was missing 'near Gaza' following a Hamas attack on a music festival.

Twenty-six-year-old Jake Marlowe, from London, has not been heard from since Saturday morning when he was providing security for a music event in the desert near Kibbutz Re’im, close to the Gaza border.

His mother Lisa told the Jewish News: “He was doing security at this rave yesterday and called me at 4.30am to say all these rockets were flying over.

“Then, at about 5.30am, he texted to say ‘signal very bad, everything OK, will keep you updated I promise you’, and that he loves me.”