Disguising
terrorists as civilians can only end badly for the civilians. Today, a
senior Hamas operative was targeted while driving a press vehicle,
effectively disguising himself as a reporter. By doing so, he risked the
lives of all journalists in the Gaza Strip.
Over
the past several days, the IDF has repeatedly carefully pinpointed and
targeted sites used by terror groups in the Gaza Strip, most notably the
Hamas and the Islamic Jihad.This task was only made harder by the
tactics of these terror groups, who systematically use civilian
facilities and locations as a cover for their operations.
The
"human shield" method, as it is commonly known, has forced the IDF to
target seemingly non-military targets, resulting in some of the civilian
casualties. It has also endangered all residents of the Gaza Strip who,
without their consent, were unwittingly dragged into the conflict.
One
such example came in today, when a senior Hamas operative was targeted
while driving a press vehicle. Muhammed Shamalah, commander of Hamas
forces in the southern Strip and head of the Hamas militant training
programs, was targeted by an Israeli air strike while driving a a car
clearly labelled "TV", indicating it to be a press vehicle, therefore
supposedly uninvolved in the conflict.
The incident occurred on the same day that four senior Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives took over a floor of the foreign press building in Gaza and used it as a meeting place,
thus effectively risking the lives of all journalists inside. The IDF
targeted the operatives and a direct hit was confirmed. Journalists have
been warned to stay aware from terrorists or terror sites in the Strip,
for their own safety.
(Read more about the targeted Islamic Jihad operatives: Baha Abu al-Ata, Tissir Mahmoud Mahmed Jabari, Halil Batini, and Ramaz Harab.)
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