Hamas Makes Massive Use of the Civilian Population as Human Shields, Causing Them Harm (Update, January 11)

Booby-trapped schools

• As Operation Cast Lead continues, additional examples come to light showing how Hamas uses the civilian population in the Gaza Strip as human shields as part of its combat strategy. ² A prominent example occurred on January 11 when an IDF force operating in the northern Gaza Strip came upon a school in the Zeitun neighborhood which had been completely booby-trapped. A delayed-action fuse led from the school to a small zoo situated nearby, which still had animals in the cages. The IDF soldiers neutralized the IED. A weapons cache, including rifles and RPG launchers, was found inside the school.

Left: The school building. Center: The fuse (the white cord) around the building visible
near the wall. Right: One of the IEDs (IDF Spokesman, January 11, 2009 ).

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• During Israeli Air Force attacks on vehicles carrying terrorist operatives and weapons, the drivers deliberately head for the center of a residential neighborhood to escape. The following video shows a number of instances in which vehicles with armed terrorists on board escaped into crowded residential areas. The pilots who discerned that the terrorists had managed to escape into civilian houses were able to deflect their bombs and they either exploded in the air or in open areas.

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