IDF presents evidence of Hamas military use of civilian sites to international media

In an attempt to strengthen the military’s legitimization for actions in the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defense Forces briefs international media on Hamas sites in the coastal enclave which are situated near civilian infrastructure.

The efforts come following harsh international scrutiny over Israel’s actions during last year’s 11-day war, which included dozens of civilian deaths and a major airstrike on a building used by international media outlets.

Military officials also admit attempting to explain each Israeli action to the world at the same time as fighting a war is a difficult task.

Reporters are presented with a series of sites, including a tunnel that runs next to a Pepsi soft drink factory and a United Nations-funded school in Gaza City. The IDF says the tunnel is used by Hamas to both store weaponry and mobilize fighters.

Several other Hamas weapon manufacturing and storage sites and tunnels situated near schools, universities mosques, and other civilian sites are presented to the reporters.

Israel argues that Hamas’s use of civilian areas for military activity, including launching rockets at Israel, amounts to war crimes.