Israel’s top defense official made the charge following a tour of the nation’s southern border with Gaza.
By Jonathan Hessen and Erin Viner
“Hamas launches attacks from within (Palestinian) population centers towards (Israeli) population centers,” stated Defense Minister Benny Gantz, insisting that “The whole world must see this crime against humanity.”
He stressed that the IDF has provided documentation to reveal how the Islamist rulers of Gaza endangers the lives of Palestinian civilians. Last week, the Israeli military released footage showing Hamas military infrastructure placed in close proximity to civilian sites including schools, universities, mosques and commercial factories.
The statements were issued during the Israeli Defense Minister’s inspection of the IDF Gaza Division, together with Deputy Defense Minister Alon Shuster, IDF Southern Command Head Maj. Gen. Eliezer Toledano, Head of the Operations Directorate Maj. Gen. Oded Basiuk and Head of the Gaza Division Brig. Gen. Nimrod Aloni.
Saying that the security establishment works tirelessly “to ensure security and stability for our citizens, by operating against the Hamas terrorist organization,” Minister Gantz vowed, “Israel will operate with precision and force against terror targets, and defend the citizens of the State of Israel.”
Following the inspection, Gantz visited a kindergarten complex in the Kfar Aza area. The protective infrastructure of 30 children’s nurseries along the Gaza border have been refurbished this year “as part of a wider program led by the defense establishment and the IDF,” said an Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMoD) statement, accompanied by the building of an additional 25 protected kindergartens in the area.
Israel’s latest exposure of Hamas military infrastructure within civilian neighborhoods is nothing new – nor is the resounding silence over the matter emanating from the international community.