Through out the last period we discern a Hamas soaring trend towards adopting a "defensive Modus Operandi" aiming to turn civilians into Hamas' "human shields". This trend existed earlier but was propelled again following the Gaza Operation (late 2008). Hamas' rationale emanates from the understanding that Israel is making maximum efforts to eschew hurting innocent civilians. Therefore, not only during the Gaza Operation did Israel hold fire on Hamas elements and targets taking refuge in populated civilian areas.
In the course of its redeployment following the Gaza Operation, Hamas is prominently taking advantage of existing medical institutions and hospitals for its own purposes. Thus, Hamas established offices, HQ for Hamas and its apparatuses, including police stations, detention and interrogation facilities, and even weapons magazines.
The phenomenon is most salient at hospitals in Gaza city, but also exists in other places in the Gaza Strip. One such place is Khan Younes, where Hamas took over hospital buildings, and established there its offices and security facilities, including detention and interrogation facilities, and since has been making use of humanitarian and public buildings as its shield.
Here are some examples:
• Al Shifa Hospital, Gaza ─ the police's operations room and a detention facility occupy one of its buildings.
• The Hospital for the Mentally Ill, Gaza ─ the hospital is now a Hamas detention and interrogation facility.
• The Children's Hospital, Gaza ─ the hospital also operates as Hamas offices and prison.
It should be mentioned that even prior to the Gaza Operation, most of Hamas offices, including HQ of its security apparatuses and police forces were located at the center of populated areas. Moreover, rocket producing labs and weapons magazines were also situated in populated areas. However, Hamas has recently been making a cynical use of civilians and specifically of Gaza Strip-based hospitals that serve as an effective shield against a possible Israeli activity.
