Germany Accuses Hamas of Using Civilians as Human Shields

Annalena Baerbock, the German Foreign Minister, who is visiting Israel, accused Hamas during a joint press conference with her Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen on Friday of using Palestinian civilians as human shields. Baerbock stated, "Hamas is now hiding behind hundreds of innocent Palestinians." She also claimed that Hamas has taken the entire population of Gaza hostage. The German Foreign Minister accused Hamas of "deliberately placing weapon depots and command centers" near residential buildings, supermarkets, universities, and possibly even hospitals. Blinken also mentioned during his press conference in Qatar on Friday that Israel's operations in Gaza are in response to Hamas's terrorist attacks, stating that Hamas uses civilians in Gaza as human shields and places them in areas at risk. Blinken urged Israeli officials to exercise utmost caution to avoid harming civilians. The Israeli army announced early Friday that it is increasing operations in Gaza and issued a statement asking residents of northern Gaza to evacuate their homes. The Israeli army stated that Hamas forces are hiding in tunnels beneath residential homes where innocent civilians reside. In a statement, the Israeli army said that "Hamas terrorists" are "exploiting people as human shields" and urged people to distance themselves from northern Gaza for their safety. Hamas, which controls Gaza and attacks Israeli positions from there, labeled the Israeli evacuation order for northern Gaza as "psychological warfare" and called for the people of Gaza to ignore it.