Channel 7 news crew forced to flee live on TV after a rocket attack

A Channel 7 news crew crossing live from the Israel-Palestine border was forced to flee after a Hamas rocket exploded overhead.

An Australian news crew reporting from the Israel-Palestine border was forced to run for cover as a Hamas rocket exploded above them.

Channel 7 journalist David Woiwod was crossing live to the network’s Early News program just after 6am when he and his cameraman had “a very close call”.

Channel 7 reporter David Woiwod spots a rocket firing overhead.

“I don’t know if you can hear those blasts in the background,” Woiwod said as exploding rockets could be seen in the distance.

“We have a flare going up there,” he added, pointing out Israel’s air defence system intercepting strikes.

As the sound of firing rockets grew closer, Woiwod – who was near Sderot on the Israeli border – could be seen gazing upwards in panic.

“In fact, I think we might have to go now,” he said. “We gotta go, f**k.”

As he ran out of shot, an explosion could be heard and the feed was cut. Back in a studio in Sydney, Channel 7 anchor Jodie Speers quickly moved on to other stories.

The moment the Channel 7 crew is forced to flee.

Woiwod returned to screens about an hour later, where he told Sunrise about the chilling moment he had to run for his life.

A clip of the live cross was replayed, albeit with the F-bomb bleeped.

“An incredibly close call there, showing that Israel doesn’t have a full grip of the situation – a fluid situation,” he said.

“Hamas had fired off a rocket. They are doing it every few hours, showing no sign of decreasing these rocket attacks.

“Israel is on the ground in northern Gaza, advancing. We understand they are 4km into the northern Gaza border. We have pushed right back, the IDF have detected what they believe to be an antitank missile in the area as well.”

Woiwod is Channel 7’s US correspondent but has been dispatched to the Middle East to cover the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Originally published as Channel 7 news crew forced to flee live on TV after a rocket attack