Israel destroys residential tower in Gaza: Witnesses

Israeli forces have levelled a 12-story residential tower in Gaza to the ground.

Palestinian media outlets and Reuters cited witnesses as saying the tower was destroyed after an Israeli strike.

Activists shared photos and video footage purporting to show the enormous building collapsing. It is not clear if the building had been evacuated.

Gaza, home to nearly 2 million people, is one of the most densely populated areas in the region.

The Palestinian group Islamic Jihad vowed to target Tel Aviv with rockets after the tower was hit in Gaza.

"In response to the targeting of residential towers and civilians, your appointment with the resistance's rockets in the skies of Tel Aviv is at 9pm," a statement by Islamic Jihad spokesman Abu Hamza said, according to Reuters.

Israeli journalist Barak Ravid reported hearing sounds of explosions and sirens in Tel Aviv shortly before 9pm local time.