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StratCom
stratcomcoe.org › cuploads › pfiles › hamas_human_shields.pdf pdf
Hamas’ use of human shields in Gaza IMAGE – SHUTTERSTOCK
The IDF estimates that Hamas has ... Gaza the third most densely populated polity in the world.7 · The practice of using human shields is common to most violent extremists operating in the Gaza Strip....
Discussions

Where is the evidence that Hamas uses hospitals as human shields, or human shields in general?
I compiled and posted this a while back, hopefully it's useful to you. Sources from Fatah, Amnesty International, and The Palestinian Health Ministry among others are cited. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/05/gaza-palestinians-tortured-summarily-killed-by-hamas-forces-during-2014-conflict/ "As well as carrying out unlawful killings, others abducted by Hamas were subjected to torture, including severe beatings with truncheons, gun butts, hoses and wire or held in stress positions. Some were interrogated and tortured or otherwise ill-treated in a disused outpatient’s clinic within the grounds of Gaza City’s main al-Shifa hospital." https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/07/31/why-hamas-stores-its-weapons-inside-hospitals-mosques-and-schools/ "The Palestinian Health Ministry, run by the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, accused Hamas' security apparatus Saturday of commandeering a number of hospital wards in the Gaza Strip for the purpose of converting them into interrogation and imprisonment compounds." https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/while-israel-held-its-fire-the-militant-group-hamas-did-not/2014/07/15/116fd3d7-3c0f-4413-94a9-2ab16af1445d_story.html "'The minister was turned away before he reached the hospital, which has become a de facto headquarters for Hamas leaders, who can be seen in the hallways and offices.' Back in 2006, PBS even aired a documentary showing how gunmen roam the halls of the hospital, intimidate the staff, and deny them access to protected locations within the building—where the camera crew was obviously prohibited from filming." https://stratcomcoe.org/cuploads/pfiles/hamas_human_shields.pdf "Hamas’ most common uses of human shields include: „ Firing rockets, artillery, and mortars from or in proximity to heavily populated civilian areas, often from or near facilities which should be protected according to the Geneva Convention (e.g. schools, hospitals, or mosques)." https://www.csis.org/analysis/understanding-hamass-and-hezbollahs-uses-information-technology "Nonetheless, Hamas is skilled at fusing the activities of its military and political branches, increasing the probability that counterterrorism responses will harm civilians. Hamas-linked hospitals, for example, increase the group’s popularity among Gazans, enable it to order supplies it can siphon off for military purposes, and provide access to a pool of personnel it can vet based on performance and dedication in a legitimate activity." https://www.timesofisrael.com/finnish-tv-rockets-fired-from-gaza-hospital/ "A television reporter from the Finnish Helsingin Sanomat confirmed Friday that Hamas has been firing rockets out of the Al-Shifa Hospital." https://www.terrorism-info.org.il/en/20683/ Fatah sources reported that Hamas prepared the ground floor of the hospital’s X-ray department as a jail and interrogation facility." 2) The Salam Fayyad government’s ministry of health issued an official statement accusing Hamas’ security services of having turned medical centers into jails and interrogation facilities during Operation Cast Lead. The statement expressed the surprise of the Palestinian people and the entire world that after the IDF operation, Hamas’ security services took over the Shifa’a hospital, especially the cancer ward and the new building which was supposed to be used by specialists. According to the statement, turning the medical facilities into interrogation centers entailed removing the medical personnel, who had answered the call of the Fayyad government’s ministry of health and returned to work in view of the IDF operation in the Gaza Strip (Ma’an News Agency, February 7, 2009). 3) An article in the Italian Corriere della Sera, published on January 22, 2009, included a statement made by a Gazan named Magah al-Rahman, who said that Hamas had set up an interrogation center for Fatah prisoners in the basement of Shifa’a. He said he heard about it from Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine operatives. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/samharris
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July 10, 2024
Questions about the claim that Hamas embeds itself in civilian areas + uses human shields
1: What “non-civilian areas” are there in Gaza? Lots of them. Look at a map, Gaza has tons of farmland. Also not difficult at all to designate a building to not be simultaneously used for any civilian purpose. The places not to use are residential buildings, hospitals, mosques, and schools, and yet they intentionally use just those. Gaza is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. It is seven miles by twenty five miles and has two million+ people living in it. This is very easy to disprove if you even looked at population densities anywhere else. You're just repeating false pro-Palestinian propaganda. Take Manhattan for example, Manhattan has 6 times the population density as the Gaza Strip. For Manhattan to have a population density like the Gaza Strip's, you'd have to go back to 1840 when the population of Manhattan was around 300,000. If you meant Gaza City, Manhattan has twice the population density of Gaza City, and for a similar population density you'd have to go back to 1860 when Manhattan had 800,000 people. But it's also silly to talk just about Gaza City anyway, as you can just leave the city and you're in farmland. And that's not to mention that a large portion of Manhattan is non-residential big corporate buildings. In the early 1900s, Manhattan already had more than its current population, and there were still farmland and orchards there. Where exactly are the places “not in civilian zones”? Can you tell me of an open, uninhabited/unused area in Gaza that can fit a military facility? Yes already explained above. If there is one, and a facility is formed, would Israel not just call it a “terrorist base” and strike it anyway? Absolutely. That's what war is. And Hamas knows that, which is why they don't do that. However, knowing that you can't possibly win a war does not mean your only choice is to use your own civilians' lives as a bargaining chip. Hamas knows they can't win a war with Israel if they fight fairly, so they choose to fight unfairly at a huge humanitarian cost so that they can try to blame everything on Israel and win the PR war. Israel strikes tunnels if they’re Hamas-run, which they had to create because they can’t build a military base. It did this multiple times before October 7th. Israel would never, ever accept a conventional Palestinian military base. But even tunnels don't have to be built under civilian infrastructure. They choose to build them there. And to put tunnel entrances or store arms in nearly every residential home, etc. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/IsraelPalestine
243
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May 26, 2025
"Hamas is constantly hiding among civilians, in schools and hospitals and nurseries"
Pro-palestinians be like : Even if hamas filmed the whole thing , it still didn't happen. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/IsraelPalestine
823
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January 1, 2025
Quick question:
Hypothetical: tomorrow, a Russian tank division shows up to the battlefield with 20 Russian civilians apiece handcuffed to the roof of each tank. The Ukrainian commander has two options: 1) hold fire unless he can think of an effective way of killing the tank without hurting anyone, in which case his position will almost certainly be overrun; or 2) open fire, knowing that all 20 will be vaporised by any hit that can kill the 4-man tank crew. If he picks option 1, the same question will be put to the defenders of Kiev, and if they pick option 1, the defenders of Warsaw, and if they pick option 1, the defenders of Paris. Do you think the Ukrainian commander is monstrous when he inevitably picks option 2? Or do you save your outrage for the Russian commander who put his own civilians in harm's way? More on reddit.com
🌐 r/IsraelPalestine
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May 24, 2025
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Lawfare
lawfaremedia.org › article › the-dangerous-failure-to-hold-hamas-accountable-for-using-human-shields
The Dangerous Failure to Hold Hamas Accountable for Using Human Shields | Lawfare
May 7, 2026 - During its war with Israel in Gaza, Hamas has used human shields—a war crime under international law—not only incessantly but also systematically and strategically, as a core part of its planning and goals.
usage of civilians and civilian infrastructure for military purposes
Human shields in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict refers to tactics employed in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict where non-combatants are placed in the line of fire to prevent military objectives from being targeted without harming … Wikipedia
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Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Human_shields_in_the_Israeli–Palestinian_conflict
Human shields in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict - Wikipedia
August 8, 2026 - The accusation of the use of human shields is a common theme in the conflict. The use of Palestinians as human shields by the Israel Defense Forces has been documented by human rights organizations. Hamas has also been accused of using human shields by Israel and its allies.
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Lieber Institute West Point
lieber.westpoint.edu › home › israel – hamas 2023 symposium – what is and is not human shielding?
Israel – Hamas 2023 Symposium – What is and is not Human Shielding? - Lieber Institute West Point
September 6, 2024 - The use of human shields is looming large in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. President Biden has on numerous occasions charged Hamas with using civilians as human shields, as has European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
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Middle East Institute
mei.edu › home › human shields or shielding israel from accountability?
Human shields or shielding Israel from accountability? - Middle East Institute
November 20, 2025 - Israeli leaders insist that such destruction is not intentional but is unavoidable given Hamas’ use of “human shields” and the fact that the militant group has embedded itself among the civilian population and routinely operates from civilian structures like hospitals and schools.
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Facebook
facebook.com › idfonline › posts › hamas-uses-gazan-civilians-as-human-shields-you-dont-need-to-take-our-word-for-i › 1165019532326727
Hamas uses Gazan civilians as human shields. You don't ...
Israel Defense Forces, Jerusalem. 4,579,964 followers · 116,668 talking about this · 14,113 were here. We are the Israel Defense Forces and it is our job to protect the State of Israel....
Find elsewhere
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Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Use_of_human_shields_by_Hamas
Use of human shields by Hamas
June 15, 2026 - The accusation of the use of human shields is a common theme in the conflict. The use of Palestinians as human shields by the Israel Defense Forces has been documented by human rights organizations. Hamas has also been accused of using human shields by Israel and its allies.
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FDD
fdd.org › home › israel › hamas officials admit its strategy is to use palestinian civilians as human shields
Hamas officials admit its strategy is to use Palestinian civilians as human shields
November 2, 2023 - Either it will prevent Israel from attacking, since the Israeli military tries to minimize harm to civilians, or if Israel does attack, the use of human shields will ensure high civilian casualties.
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Facebook
facebook.com › idfonline › videos › hamas-use-of-human-shields › 694720966647293
Hamas' Use of Human Shields - Israel Defense Forces
Israel Defense Forces, Jerusalem. 4,579,964 followers · 116,668 talking about this · 14,113 were here. We are the Israel Defense Forces and it is our job to protect the State of Israel....
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/samharris › where is the evidence that hamas uses hospitals as human shields, or human shields in general?
r/samharris on Reddit: Where is the evidence that Hamas uses hospitals as human shields, or human shields in general?
July 10, 2024 -

I just got permanently banned from r/palestine (unsurprisingly not a sub that is particularly committed to free speech) for the crime of pointing out that Hamas uses hospitals as large human shields.

However, to their credit, in banning me, they left me with some links regarding some common myths about Hamas. One of them was the "human shields" myth.

Upon following up on their arguments, I can't actually find much in the way of reliable evidence from anyone or anything (that is not directly from the IDF) that corroborates Hamas using human shields. I feel like Sam is more than a little to hasty to buy into claims that come from Israel, as if they don't also have a sophisticated propaganda machine up and running.

So with that said: can someone point me in the direction of reliable evidence that Hamas uses human shields?

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I compiled and posted this a while back, hopefully it's useful to you. Sources from Fatah, Amnesty International, and The Palestinian Health Ministry among others are cited. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/05/gaza-palestinians-tortured-summarily-killed-by-hamas-forces-during-2014-conflict/ "As well as carrying out unlawful killings, others abducted by Hamas were subjected to torture, including severe beatings with truncheons, gun butts, hoses and wire or held in stress positions. Some were interrogated and tortured or otherwise ill-treated in a disused outpatient’s clinic within the grounds of Gaza City’s main al-Shifa hospital." https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/07/31/why-hamas-stores-its-weapons-inside-hospitals-mosques-and-schools/ "The Palestinian Health Ministry, run by the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, accused Hamas' security apparatus Saturday of commandeering a number of hospital wards in the Gaza Strip for the purpose of converting them into interrogation and imprisonment compounds." https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/while-israel-held-its-fire-the-militant-group-hamas-did-not/2014/07/15/116fd3d7-3c0f-4413-94a9-2ab16af1445d_story.html "'The minister was turned away before he reached the hospital, which has become a de facto headquarters for Hamas leaders, who can be seen in the hallways and offices.' Back in 2006, PBS even aired a documentary showing how gunmen roam the halls of the hospital, intimidate the staff, and deny them access to protected locations within the building—where the camera crew was obviously prohibited from filming." https://stratcomcoe.org/cuploads/pfiles/hamas_human_shields.pdf "Hamas’ most common uses of human shields include: „ Firing rockets, artillery, and mortars from or in proximity to heavily populated civilian areas, often from or near facilities which should be protected according to the Geneva Convention (e.g. schools, hospitals, or mosques)." https://www.csis.org/analysis/understanding-hamass-and-hezbollahs-uses-information-technology "Nonetheless, Hamas is skilled at fusing the activities of its military and political branches, increasing the probability that counterterrorism responses will harm civilians. Hamas-linked hospitals, for example, increase the group’s popularity among Gazans, enable it to order supplies it can siphon off for military purposes, and provide access to a pool of personnel it can vet based on performance and dedication in a legitimate activity." https://www.timesofisrael.com/finnish-tv-rockets-fired-from-gaza-hospital/ "A television reporter from the Finnish Helsingin Sanomat confirmed Friday that Hamas has been firing rockets out of the Al-Shifa Hospital." https://www.terrorism-info.org.il/en/20683/ Fatah sources reported that Hamas prepared the ground floor of the hospital’s X-ray department as a jail and interrogation facility." 2) The Salam Fayyad government’s ministry of health issued an official statement accusing Hamas’ security services of having turned medical centers into jails and interrogation facilities during Operation Cast Lead. The statement expressed the surprise of the Palestinian people and the entire world that after the IDF operation, Hamas’ security services took over the Shifa’a hospital, especially the cancer ward and the new building which was supposed to be used by specialists. According to the statement, turning the medical facilities into interrogation centers entailed removing the medical personnel, who had answered the call of the Fayyad government’s ministry of health and returned to work in view of the IDF operation in the Gaza Strip (Ma’an News Agency, February 7, 2009). 3) An article in the Italian Corriere della Sera, published on January 22, 2009, included a statement made by a Gazan named Magah al-Rahman, who said that Hamas had set up an interrogation center for Fatah prisoners in the basement of Shifa’a. He said he heard about it from Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine operatives.
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https://unwatch.org/un-admits-palestinians-fired-rockets-unrwa-schools/
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FDD
fdd.org › home › international organizations › the dangerous failure to hold hamas accountable for using human shields
The Dangerous Failure to Hold Hamas Accountable for Using Human Shields
July 5, 2026 - During its war with Israel in Gaza, Hamas has used human shields—a war crime under international law—not only incessantly but also systematically and strategically, as a core part of its planning and goals.
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AP News
apnews.com › article › israel-palestinians-hamas-war-army-human-shields-80f358dd2c87a1123f26ffada159701c
Israeli use of human shields in Gaza was systematic, soldiers and former detainees tell the AP
The soldiers said they first became aware human shields were being used shortly after the war erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, and that it became widespread by the middle of 2024.
Published: May 25, 2025
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The Pinsker Centre
pinskercentre.org › research-and-publications › report-hamas-and-human-shields
REPORT: Hamas and Human Shields — The Pinsker Centre
March 5, 2024 - Since Hamas took power in the Gaza Strip in 2007 after a bloody war with Fatah, the terrorist organization has utilized human shield tactics such as putting entrances to terror tunnels in residential buildings, hiding rockets to fire indiscriminately at Israeli civilians in schools, hospitals, and mosques, and even publicly calling on its own civilians to climb onto the roofs of Hamas officials’ homes to ward off Israeli strikes.
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Henry Jackson Society
henryjacksonsociety.org › home › hamas’s human shield strategy in gaza
Hamas's Human Shield Strategy in Gaza - Henry Jackson Society
May 5, 2025 - Since 7 October 2023, the UN has issued 367 reports that are filed under the subject of “Gaza Strip”. A search of these reports reveals that the UN has rarely acknowledged and never asserted the use by Hamas of “human shields”. The ...
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Washington Post
washingtonpost.com › opinions › opinion columns
Opinion | We can’t ignore the truth that Hamas uses human shields - The Washington Post
November 14, 2023 - Hamas’s deliberate use of Palestinian civilians to try to block its weapons and fighters from Israeli attack is emerging as a central dilemma in the West’s debate about the Israel-Gaza war.
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FAIR
fair.org › home › one-side-routinely-uses-human-shields-in-gaza-but-not-the-side-thats-usually-blamed
One Side Routinely Uses Human Shields in Gaza—But Not the Side That’s Usually Blamed
May 13, 2025 - The New York Times’ editorial board (10/16/23) flatly stated that “Hamas is using the people of Gaza as human shields against Israel’s bombing campaign,” without pointing to any source documenting a single instance of this practice.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/israelpalestine › questions about the claim that hamas embeds itself in civilian areas + uses human shields
r/IsraelPalestine on Reddit: Questions about the claim that Hamas embeds itself in civilian areas + uses human shields
May 26, 2025 -

I have a few questions about the claims that (1) Hamas embeds itself in civilian areas and (2) Hamas uses civilians as human shields.

1: What “non-civilian areas” are there in Gaza? Gaza is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. It is seven miles by twenty five miles and has two million+ people living in it. It has under 2% of Israel’s area but holds an equivalent of over 20% of its population. The average resident cannot easily leave, this was true before October 7th and it’s even more true now. Where exactly are the places “not in civilian zones”? Can you tell me of an open, uninhabited/unused area in Gaza that can fit a military facility? If there is one, and a facility is formed, would Israel not just call it a “terrorist base” and strike it anyway? Israel strikes tunnels if they’re Hamas-run, which they had to create because they can’t build a military base. It did this multiple times before October 7th. Israel would never, ever accept a conventional Palestinian military base.

2: Discounting the previous argument, how does Hamas being in civilian areas or using human shields justify repeatedly targeting said civilian areas with the knowledge that disproportionate civilian casualties will occur? You’d assume Israel frequently takes Hamas’ bait. By that logic, do you accept that Israel keeps giving Hamas exactly what it wants? If you say “yes”, I have two further questions.

1: Why does Israel repeatedly target civilian areas knowing Hamas would achieve its goals and that it would make Israel appear less credible?

2: What do you propose then that Israel does so Hamas does not achieve a constant propaganda victory?

I am genuinely asking.

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1: What “non-civilian areas” are there in Gaza? Lots of them. Look at a map, Gaza has tons of farmland. Also not difficult at all to designate a building to not be simultaneously used for any civilian purpose. The places not to use are residential buildings, hospitals, mosques, and schools, and yet they intentionally use just those. Gaza is one of the most densely populated areas in the world. It is seven miles by twenty five miles and has two million+ people living in it. This is very easy to disprove if you even looked at population densities anywhere else. You're just repeating false pro-Palestinian propaganda. Take Manhattan for example, Manhattan has 6 times the population density as the Gaza Strip. For Manhattan to have a population density like the Gaza Strip's, you'd have to go back to 1840 when the population of Manhattan was around 300,000. If you meant Gaza City, Manhattan has twice the population density of Gaza City, and for a similar population density you'd have to go back to 1860 when Manhattan had 800,000 people. But it's also silly to talk just about Gaza City anyway, as you can just leave the city and you're in farmland. And that's not to mention that a large portion of Manhattan is non-residential big corporate buildings. In the early 1900s, Manhattan already had more than its current population, and there were still farmland and orchards there. Where exactly are the places “not in civilian zones”? Can you tell me of an open, uninhabited/unused area in Gaza that can fit a military facility? Yes already explained above. If there is one, and a facility is formed, would Israel not just call it a “terrorist base” and strike it anyway? Absolutely. That's what war is. And Hamas knows that, which is why they don't do that. However, knowing that you can't possibly win a war does not mean your only choice is to use your own civilians' lives as a bargaining chip. Hamas knows they can't win a war with Israel if they fight fairly, so they choose to fight unfairly at a huge humanitarian cost so that they can try to blame everything on Israel and win the PR war. Israel strikes tunnels if they’re Hamas-run, which they had to create because they can’t build a military base. It did this multiple times before October 7th. Israel would never, ever accept a conventional Palestinian military base. But even tunnels don't have to be built under civilian infrastructure. They choose to build them there. And to put tunnel entrances or store arms in nearly every residential home, etc.
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I think you need to define disproportionate civilian casualties. And then compare that to accepted civilian to combatant ratios.