Israel Accuses Hamas of Hiding Weapons Depots in Civilian Areas

YERUSHALAYIM (Reuters) — Israel published images on Wednesday which officials said showed weapons depots and tunnels in Gaza near a school, a Pepsi factory and other buildings and accused the Palestinian terror group Hamas of deliberately hiding weapons in civilian areas.

The military’s Southern Command released drone footage and coordinates which it said showed tunnels and weapons-production sites in densely populated civilian areas including near al-Shifa hospital and the Islamic University of Gaza.

Other sites included a U.N.-run school, a medical clinic, a library and mosques.

“Hamas launches attacks from within population centers and targets population centers – the world must be aware of this crime against humanity and must exact a heavy price from Hamas,” Defense Minister Benny Gantz said.

He said Israel would act with “precision and force” to defend its citizens.

The presentation was designed to counter charges that Israel deliberately targets civilian sites and to preempt them in the future, by showing that Hamas puts their own people at risk by stationing military facilities near them. IDF officials said they chose to publicize the sites during a period of relative quiet, as explaining their actions in the midst of a conflict is exceedingly difficult to do.

Hamas rejected the statement.

“These are lies the occupation is circulating to justify its crimes against innocent civilians during the wars it conducted against Gaza,” said Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem.

Israeli military officials said Israel had a joint strategy of supporting economic opportunities for Gazans, including work permits allowing several thousand to work in Israel while maintaining strict military readiness to intervene.

“The goal is Hamas weakened and deterred,” an official of the Israel Defense Forces said.