Israel Matzav

Hamas to build homes for 'human shields' on Gaza - Israel border

Hamas is planning to build temporary homes - mainly 'caravans' (trailers) - for Gazan civilians displaced by Operation Cast Lead along the Gaza - Israel border. The Gazan civilians would then serve as 'human shields' for activities like rocket fire and tunnel digging.

The army learned recently of the plan, initiated by Hamas Housing Minister Yousef al-Mansi, under which thousands of Palestinians who are waiting for their homes that were damaged during Operation Cast Lead to be repaired will be housed in temporary structures and caravans along the border with Israel.

The IDF believes that Mansi plans to set up the temporary villages to serve as obstacles in the event that Israel sends ground forces into Gaza. The border villages will also likely serve as cover for tunnels that Hamas will dig under the security fence and into Israel to carry out attacks.

"This is part of Hamas's overall strategy to use built-up areas to hide in and to launch attacks," a senior defense official said. "This basically means that Hamas will want to use the people it places there as human shields against Israel."

The picture at the top of this post is a group of Hamas children re-enacting the kidnapping of IDF corporal Gilad Shalit, something that Hamas has said recently it would like to repeat.

But I'm sure the next 'Goldstone Commission' will decide that it was Israel that turned these 'Palestinians' into 'human shields' since if Israel had only allowed Hamas to import building materials build more rockets, they would not be caught in the border area like that.

So once again, the obtuse Goldstone Report is encouraging placing civilians in harm's way. After all, if Hamas got away with it the last time, they will get away with it this time.

What could go wrong?

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 5:33 PM