The Daily Populous Monday June 17th, 2024 evening edition
Authored by allisrael.com and submitted by CredibleNews2024

A Hamas terrorist fires a mortar shell from a civilian area in Rafah (Photo: Screenshot)

Hamas leaders have repeatedly denied that the group operates in civilian areas. However, contradicting its own official narrative, the terror organization released footage of a Hamas terrorist firing mortar rounds from a civilian area in the southern Gazan city of Rafah. The footage was reportedly from a tent being used to shelter displaced Gazans in the area, with Hamas claiming it was targeting an IDF helicopter.

"Hamas released footage of a terrorist using a civilian area as a launch site," the Israeli military spokesperson stated. "This exemplifies Hamas' strategy: launching rockets from any location, preferably amid civilians."

Footage, released by Hamas, of a Hamas terrorist using a civilian area as a launching point.

Here is the criteria for Hamas’ rocket launching points: Anywhere. Areas with civilians preferred. pic.twitter.com/qK718i7qBB — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 15, 2024

This was far from an isolated incident with Palestinian terrorists in Gaza operating in civilian areas. In May, an IDF drone filmed Hamas operating in a United Nations agency facility in Rafah.

IDF International Spokesman Lt.-Col. Nadav Shoshani stated, “The presence of weapons and gunmen at a humanitarian compound represents a clear violation of UNRWA’s own charter and policy.”

“This video of terrorists on a UN compound should raise serious questions: What are terrorists doing inside a UN compound? Why are they shooting at civilians? And what exactly is UNRWA‘s involvement?” Shoshani asked, referring to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.

IDF Lt.-Col. (R.) Peter Lerner blasted the UN for permitting Hamas terrorists to use its presumably neutral facilities.

“UNRWA pledges neutrality, no weapons allowed on their sites. There is nothing neutral about Hamas gunmen with their pickups and AK-47 on the UN premises,” Lerner wrote on 𝕏.

Hamas’ decision to operate in civilian areas endangers its population and constitutes a war crime, according to international law.

In late May, the IDF eliminated two senior Hamas terrorists in Rafah during an aerial strike. The Hamas-run Gazan Health Ministry quickly claimed that 35 civilians were killed and dozens more wounded as a result of the attack.

The UN, the European Union and other international organizations were quick to blame Israel, however, an IDF probe later indicated that the civilians were killed by secondary explosions, and may have been due to a Hamas arms depot that exploded.

Furthermore, the top Hamas chief in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, has reportedly described Palestinian civilian casualties in Gaza as a “necessary sacrifice” to “infuse life into the veins of this nation, prompting it to rise to its glory and honor,” according to the Wall Street Journal, which analyzed dozens of messages he communicated to allies over several months.

Hamas has systematically exaggerated the number of civilian casualties in Gaza as a tool to increase international political pressure on Israel to halt its offensive against the Iranian-backed terrorist organization.

In February, the WSJ reported that Sinwar was confident that the mounting civilian casualties resulting from the war would eventually lead to international pressure to the extent that Israel would be forced to stop the war.

AbeRego on June 17th, 2024 at 15:07 UTC »

People are doubting this happens? It's literally their entire military strategy.

Calm-Strawberry-8819 on June 17th, 2024 at 12:29 UTC »

This has been documented for years.

Indian reporter catches Hamas building and launching rocket next to residential buildings and hotels.

France 24 reporter finds rocket launcher near Gaza homes

Amnesty International Report: “there are credible reports that, in certain cases, palestinian armed groups launched rockets or mortars from within civilian facilities or compounds, including schools, at least one hospital, and a greek orthodox church in gaza city,” the report says. “in at least two cases, accounts indicate that attacks were launched in spite of the fact that displaced gazan civilians were sheltering in the compounds or in neighboring buildings."

BBC News: Amnesty's report also detailed other violations of international humanitarian law by Palestinian groups during the conflict, such as storing rockets and other munitions in civilian buildings, including UN schools, and cases where armed groups launched attacks or stored munitions very near locations where hundreds of civilians were sheltering.

AIpheratz on June 17th, 2024 at 09:18 UTC »

How is this news?

The whole strategy of hamas is to hide among civilians.