Where’s the Coverage? Hamas Instructions to Human Shields
While several media outlets reported on leaflets and text warnings from the Israeli army to residents of northern and eastern Gaza to flee certain areas, many ignored Hamas’ counter-instructions to stay put, thereby setting up their own civilians as vulnerable human shields.
The IDF warnings read:
To the residents of Sheikh Ajlin, Tel Al-Hwa, Rimal South, Zeitoun, Sjaiya, Turkeman and Sajiya Jadida: For your safety, you are required to evacuate your residences immediately and move towards the central Gaza city, via Al-Khara, Jma’at Al Dul Al Arabia, Al Aqsa Al Qudsiya, Um Alaimoun, Salah A-din, Al-Maqsurra, Hal’s Mjdad. In the central Gaza city, you are required to stay between the areas of Salah A-din from the west, Amar Al-Muchtar from the north, Al-Nasser from the east and Al-Quds St. from the south.
And:
To the residents of of the outskirts of Shati, Al-Atatra, Beit Lahiya and Beit Hanoun: for your safety, you are required to evacuate your residences immediately and move towards central Gaza city via Al-Falujah, Al-Udda and Salah A-din. In the central Gaza city, you are required to stay between the roads of Salah A-din from the west, Amar Al-Muchtar from the north, Al-Nasser from the east and Al-Quds St. from the south.
In response to the IDF effort to keep civilians out of harm’s way, the Hamas interior ministry spokesman, speaking on Al-Quds Radio in Gaza, told his people to ignore the warnings. Israeli military intelligence provides the radio transcript:
Question: As the bombings go on, I want to address a specific issue: People have been receiving text messages urging them to evacuate their houses…
Hamas Interior Ministry Spokesperson: This is all part of the psychological warfare held by the Zionist enemy… So by using this way of communication, our public radio, I address all our Palestinian brothers by saying: Please do not listen to the orders noted on these text messages, their only purpose is spreading fear and panic within our people.
The Los Angeles Times, the Daily Mirror, the Independent and the Washington Post all reported that Israel dropped leaflets, but ignored Hamas’ call for civilians to stay in the line of fire despite the risk of an Israeli ground operation in these areas. Why the partial coverage? Why ignore Hamas’ response which endangers Palestinian civilians?
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