Israeli PM: Challenges to Minimise Civilian Casualties, Blames Hamas
In the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, Israeli officials claim that Hamas has been utilizing tunnels beneath hospitals, like Al Shifa in Gaza, to store weapons and ammunition while allegedly holding hostages. According to Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, efforts to prevent civilian casualties have faced challenges as Hamas is accused of using patients and displaced individuals as human shields, a claim strongly denied by Hamas.
Israeli PM Netanyahu, in an interview with CBS News, expressed the difficulty in minimizing civilian casualties, blaming Hamas for hindering civilians from moving to safer locations. Despite Israel's attempts, Netanyahu stated that Hamas is actively keeping civilians in harm's way. Israel has employed methods such as distributing leaflets and making phone calls to urge civilians to evacuate.
In response to these allegations, Hamas issued a statement rejecting claims of military use of Al Shifa hospital. The United States has confidence in its intelligence assessment regarding Hamas activities in the hospital, as stated by White House spokesperson John Kirby.
Recent developments include the Israeli military retrieving the bodies of female soldiers held captive near Al Shifa, with accusations that their deaths were a result of Israeli strikes. Additionally, clashes between Hamas's Al-Quds Brigades and Israeli forces in the West Bank, particularly in Jenin, have escalated tensions. The West Bank has witnessed a significant death toll since the October 7 Hamas attack, raising concerns about the situation spiraling out of control.
Israel's military chief of staff indicated that efforts are underway to dismantle Hamas' military infrastructure in the northern Gaza Strip, with signs of the campaign expanding to other parts of the enclave. Civilians in southern Gaza have been urged to leave, with concerns growing about the impact on Palestinian civilians amid the military campaign.
The conflict has resulted in a significant loss of life, with conflicting reports on the number of casualties. While Israel claims that the October 7 Hamas attack resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, mostly civilians, Gaza health authorities, deemed reliable by the United Nations, report over 11,500 confirmed deaths in an Israeli bombardment and ground invasion, including more than 4,700 children.
Human Rights Watch emphasizes the special protections afforded to hospitals under international humanitarian law, asserting that these protections are forfeited only if harmful acts are conducted from the premises. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, during his visit to Israel, called on the country to do more to protect civilians in Gaza, urging restraint in the face of escalating tensions. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, however, placed blame on Hamas for both the October 7 attack and the current plight of Palestinians in Gaza.
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