Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., January 07, 2009 Tevet 11, 5769 | | Israel Time: 02:16 (EST+7)   Back to Homepage web haaretz.com Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File

Hamas puts Gazans in danger by drawing IDF into urban warfare By Avi Issacharoff Tags: hamas, israel, gaza  Hamas has thus far avoided direct clashes with Israel Defense Forces troops, preferring instead to take refuge in densely populated civilian neighborhoods, Palestinians sources said yesterday. Hamas, they said, prefers to shoot from between houses, leaving local civilians to absorb the IDF's retaliatory strikes. Yesterday, two Palestinian families were killed by IDF fire. The sources were highly critical of Hamas, saying its promises of fierce resistance to any Israeli ground incursion have proven empty. Advertisement According to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, 120 Palestinians have been killed since the ground operation began, the vast majority of them civilians, including 35 children and 18 women. Palestinian sources said the high ratio of civilian to militant casualties stems from Hamas' decision to have its fighters take refuge in civilian quarters rather than meeting the IDF ob the outskirts. Hamas has used snipers against Israeli troops and laid ambushes for them, but is not sending large forces into open areas where the IDF's numerical edge could prove decisive, the sources added. The IDF, for its part, has thus far declined to enter densely populated neighborhoods. Nevertheless, Hamas spokesman Abu Obeida continued to insist yesterday that the "defeat of the Zionist army is closer than ever." The sources also said that senior Hamas officials have been spotted more than once wandering around the maternity ward of Gaza City's Shifa Hospital and even using the hospital to hold press conferences, on the theory that it offers a safe haven from Israeli fire. For the same reason, Hamas forces have taken refuge near buildings that serve as headquarters for various international organizations, such as the Red Cross and the United Nations. Bookmark to del.icio.us   'With total determination' Widow of IDF soldier killed Monday remembers her fallen hero. Anti-Semites unite! Protests against Gaza op worldwide have had a hateful, violent tone.   1.   Who is the coward exactly?? 06:55  |  M.D 06/01/09   2.   Hamas does not force the IDF to kill civilians 06:59  |  Natallie Durson 06/01/09   3.   Hamas prefers the deaths of Israelis over the lives of ... 07:49  |  Jean Van Daem 06/01/09   4.   Durson 08:01  |  David Hickson 06/01/09   5.   In response to #2 08:04  |  Orit Tepper 06/01/09   6.   Natallie You Are Insane 08:04  |  Derek 06/01/09   7.   MD and Durston want Israel destroyed... 08:05  |  ejf 06/01/09   8.   Natallie Durson is a coward 08:10  |  Gili 06/01/09   9.   When the chips are down... 08:12  |  Colin Wright 06/01/09   10.   Israel`s biggest crime 08:51  |  Lloyd 06/01/09   11.   Danger 09:54  |  Eman 06/01/09   12.   Did Avi write this? 10:36  |  Joe 06/01/09   13.   Natallie Durson - That is no excuse... Hamas thinks they 12:28  |  Ben 06/01/09   14.   gili and hypocricy 12:36  |  truth 06/01/09   15.   When has Hamas ever cared about civilians? 13:57  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 06/01/09   16.   Durson-Give me a break!!! 18:59  |  don the maccabee 06/01/09   17.   Are you joking? 19:04  |  Tarik 06/01/09   18.   Re Did Avi write this 19:08  |  Sarah 06/01/09   19.   Smoke them out with food 19:50  |  David 06/01/09   20.   Natalie Durson 19:51  |  Victor 06/01/09   21.   Get real 20:22  |  Mark Lincoln 06/01/09   22.   Lincoln do you really think it`s their `homes` Hamas protects? 20:29  |  x-ray 06/01/09   23.   Gili the hypocrit 22:23  |  David 06/01/09

Read & React Bradley Burston / Gaza War Diary III: If Mexico shelled Texas, like Hamas shells Israel Responses: 151 At least 30 die in strike on Gaza school; IDF: Troops fired in self-defense Responses: 103 ANALYSIS / Israel is on its way to reoccupying all of the Gaza Strip Responses: 32 ANALYSIS / Price of stubborness over Gaza exit is dead Israeli soldiers Responses: 59 More Headlines 02:12 Abbas at UN calls for Gaza truce, fresh peace talks 01:51 Israel to establish 'humanitarian corridor' for Gaza Strip 01:55 Egypt's Gaza truce plan: ceasefire followed by border security talks 00:21 IDF shell kills 30 in Gaza UN school; Israel mulls appeal over Hamas fire from UN facilities 22:47 Obama breaks silence on Gaza, calls civilian deaths 'a deep concern' 23:03 Al-Qaida No. 2 urges Muslims to attack Israeli and Western targets over Gaza op 23:50 Five Israeli soldiers killed in 24 hours, as IDF closes in on Gaza cities 23:42 French TV claims photos from 2005 showed damage from Israel's Gaza operation 16:21 Gaza rocket hits Gedera, 30km from Tel Aviv; baby lightly hurt 17:12 ANALYSIS / Price of stubborness over Gaza exit is dead soldiers 18:20 Get up to the minute coverage of the warfare in Gaza directly to your email 00:22 'You'll be proud of me, yet' slain IDF soldier told family before entering Gaza 21:45 The view from Ramallah / An Intifada in its infancy? 22:19 Turkey-Israel basketball game canned after pro-Gaza protesters storm court 14:37 ANALYSIS / Israel is on its way to reoccupying all of the Gaza Strip 19:17 'Iran pledged Hezbollah won't respond to Gaza op,' says top Lebanese MP 18:39 Jewish and Arab students clash on Gaza offensive 13:06 ANALYSIS / The unspoken goal of bringing down Hamas in Gaza 20:07 Hospitalized but defiant, Israeli soldiers eager to return to Gaza battle 13:40 Israeli general: Never knew I was evacuating my wounded soldier son from Gaza 13:00 Burning car rams synagogue in southwest France 13:46 Egypt bars doctors from entering Gaza Strip 05:44 Hamas puts Gazans in danger by drawing IDF into urban warfare 18:21 PICTURE GALLERY / Gaza incursion sparks protests around world Previous Editions Select Day 06 jan 05 jan 04 jan 02 jan 01 jan 31 dec 30 dec 29 dec 28 dec 26 dec 25 dec 24 dec

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