There has been some debate on this site that Hamas is using Gaza civilians as human shields.
Before going any further - Definition of human shields from the Geneva Convention:
It can be concluded that the use of human shields requires an intentional co-location of military objectives and civilians or persons hors de combat with the specific intent of trying to prevent the targeting of those military objectives.
From this, to me at least, human shields are both forcing civilians to move into militarized areas AND putting military equipment into civilian areas with the intent purpose of protecting military assets.
Today's new below the fold
“Today,in the course of the regular inspection of its premises, UNRWA discovered rockets hidden in a vacant school in the Gaza Strip,” the UNRWA release reads. “As soon as the rockets were discovered, UNRWA staff were withdrawn from the premises, and so we are unable to confirm the precise number of rockets. The school is situated between two other UNRWA schools that currently each accommodate 1,500 internally displaced persons.”
According to the definition of human shields above, it is only reasonable to argue that putting rockets in a school, that is surrounded by 2 schools being used as temporary shelters.
This is the second time in about a week that UN inspectors have found rockets being stored in UN schools. Of course, the UN officials aren't going to inspect non-UN buildings, but it makes logical sense that Hamas is using this practice elsewhere.
There have also been dozens of images, mostly supplied by the IDF, which I know that most people here will say are faked, that show rockets being fired from parks, hospital parking lots, school parking lots, apartment complexes and mosques. Here is video of Hamas using an ambulance to transport military forces in an attempt to hide from Israel.
Hamas has also gone on television encouraging civilians to act as human shields. While this is not proof that Hamas "forces" civilians to act as human shields, there is anecdotal evidence that Hamas tells civilians to go into the roofs of hamas leaders in order to try and prevent the leader from being hit by a bomb.
Additionally, there are reports that more than a hundred of the rockets fired from Gaza have landed either in Gaza or the West Bank, adding to the casualty and injured totals. In this case, it is Gaza literally attacking Gaza.
Now, of course, and I'm going to attempt to make this exceptionally clear, none of this excuses all of the actions by Israel either recently or in the past. While Israel does have strategies to try and minimize civilian casualties, they are not perfect, are not always followed and are not an excuse for Israel's actions. None of this means that I think civilian casualties are acceptable in any way. This does not mean I support bombing kids on the beach or tank fire into hospitals. I do not condone those actions, nor do I support those that applaud those actions. Again, to be exceptionally clear, this does not excuse Israel's actions, and this does not give Israel cart blanche when it comes to targets.
But, at the same time, it does add a certain level of responsibility to Hamas when it comes to civilian casualties. Human shields are not a trump card in war, no nation should be able to simply base all of its operations from hospitals and schools and then act shocked and outraged when the group its attacking fired back at those locations.
What I am trying to do is clear up and come to an agreement on the use of human shields by Hamas. According to information from the Geneva convention, video, images, and the UN, we should all be able to agree that Hamas is using human shields in Gaza. We should all be able to condemn these actions together without debate of if it is happening.
There is no easy solution to the I/P conflict. There are elements in Palestine and Israel that are actively working to prevent a two state solution, or really any solution. Just this week a hamas leader went on TVand specifically said that peace was not the goal, just rearming. I'm sure I could find similar statements from Israeli leaders as well.
I think, if anything, this conflict has proven that the leadership from both sides must change for peace to occur. I don't mean a new leader from the same party, I'm talking about a national change in opinion that swells and forces ideological change at the top. If I had my way, there would be a cease fire immediately which would then lead to loosening of restrictions on the Gaza economy and imports/experts. That would eventually lead to some sort of land for peace agreement with Palestinians that is long-lasting.