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Growing Civilian Death Toll in Gaza Prompts Charges of Human Shields

(CNN) Michael Martinez - Tuesday's discovery of more rockets hidden in a vacant UN facility is the sort of evidence that Israel cites in accusations that Hamas fighters use civilians and their institutions as shields in the ongoing Gaza warfare. It was the second such discovery at a UN school in Gaza in a week. Israel blames Hamas' aggression for putting Gazans in danger. "They're putting missile batteries next to hospitals, next to mosques, next to schools," said Ron Dermer, Israel's ambassador to the U.S. "They're the ones who are putting their civilians in harm's way. They use the strategy of human shields for a reason, because they think it works. They think that Israel will be (blamed) for these civilian casualties. Hamas should be [held] responsible for the use of human shields." Israel also points to how they agreed to a recent Egypt-brokered cease-fire, but Hamas refused and continued firing rockets on Israeli cities and civilians, prompting the Israeli ground offensive into Gaza last week.
2014-07-23 00:00:00
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