Israel 'not targeting civilians'
2009-01-07 06:49
Jerusalem - The Israeli military said on Tuesday it was not targeting civilians in its war on Hamas in Gaza and blamed the Islamists for the mounting civilian death toll.
The statement came on a day when Israeli strikes on Gaza, including three near United Nations-run schools, were estimated to have killed more than 50 civilians.
"The IDF (Israel Defence Forces) emphasises that the residents of Gaza are not the target of the operation," it said in a statement.
"The IDF does all within its power to avoid injury to civilians."
The Israeli military accused Hamas of placing "many military installations, including weapons storage depots, in civilian areas".
"Many of these have been in the homes of Hamas activists, together with their wives and children," it said.
"Hamas, which uses civilians, the elderly and children as 'human shields', is responsible for any and all injury to the civilian population."
Since Israel unleashed its war on Hamas in Gaza on December 27, at least 635 Palestinians have been killed and more than 2 900 wounded, according to Gaza medics.
More than 160 of them have been children.