Using Civilians as Human Shields is a War Crime

[Pototan]

Hamas has been using civilians to mask their military initiatives for years. Let's use our common sense. We know that thousands of missiles have been launched from Gaza. We know that Gaza is the most densely populated area in the world. By definition, the missiles have to be in civilian populated areas. Certainly, their command-and-control centers and military storage areas are located in Mosques, Churches, Schools and Hospitals. This amounts to an initial war crime. Any casualties as a result of these actions are the responsibility of Hamas.

In 1945, my adopted home of the Philippines was facing a similar military situation (similar, but not exactly the same). The American forces were set to bombard the Japanese Imperial Army holding the capital city of Manila and invade the Island of Luzon in order to liberate it. One million Filipino civilians were in the capital. The United States military forces took that island, but there were 100,000 Filipino casualties. The International courts found that the Japanese actions were a war crime, not the American actions.

Targeting civilians, as the Russians and Hamas has done, is a war crime. Those who use them as shields are also criminals.

This whole situation is breaking my heart. Children dying because of war or conflict in Palestine, Israel, Ukraine, or anywhere else in the world, breaks my heart. I wish I could wave a magic wand and make it all stop, but I can't. But in the meantime, let's keep sight of who the bad guys really are.

[Happy Hoosier]

1. And Hamas CONTINUES to hold civilian hostages. NT

[Pototan]

2. That too

[Beastly Boy]

3. Hamas is war crimes galore

Yet, I don't see too many posts that mention this fact without adding "but Israel bombing civilians is also a war crime", which is not true since Israel is not targeting civilians.

[Pototan]

4. My point, exactly

[ananda]

5. I see it and it's horrible from every direction.

Hamas is deeply embedded in a large, vulnerable population,
mounting attacks from there.

How does their target defend itself and solve this problem?

Is there any answer at all except for either or both to simply
quit and leave?

And that's obviously not going to happen, so .....

[AntivaxHunters]

6. It sure is!

And both sides are committing war crimes. And everyone who's responsible & is needs to be sent to the Hague.

[William769]

7. People in Hamas need to be put in front of firing squad. NT

[AntivaxHunters]

8. That's a 2 way street

Why ignore & minimize the crimes Israel has committed? Both sides are guilty of war crimes.

[William769]

9. Israel is defending itself as a nation and its people. NT

[AntivaxHunters]

10. Just forget it

This isn't going to go anywhere.
War crimes are wrong no matter who's doing it. Period.

[Redleg]

11. It is a just war for Israel

but their actions in the war must also be just. Hamas started an unjust war and wages war in an unjust manner.