Gaza victims describe being used as human shields by Hamas

by Itamar Marcus and Barbara Crook
Palestinian Media Watch
p:+972 2 625 4140 e: pmw@pmw.org.il
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Members of a Gaza family whose farm was turned into a "fortress" by Hamas
fighters have reported that they were helpless to stop Hamas from using them
as human shields. They told the official Palestinian Authority daily
newspaper that for years Hamas has used their property and homes for
military installations from which to launch rockets into Israel, dig tunnels
and store arms. According to the victims, those who tried to object were
shot in the legs by Hamas.

The following are excerpts from the article from the official Palestinian
Authority daily, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida:

"The Abd Rabbo family kept quiet while Hamas fighters turned their farm in
the Gaza strip into a fortress. Right now they are waiting for the aid
promised by the [Hamas] movement after Israel bombed the farm and turned it
into ruins...

The hill on which the Abd Rabbo family lives overlooks the Israeli town
Sderot, a fact that turned it into an ideal military position for the
Palestinian fighters, from which they have launched hundreds of rockets into
southern Israel during the last few years. Several of the Abd Rabbo family
members described how the fighters dug tunnels under their houses, stored
arms in the fields and launched rockets from the yard of their farm during
the nights.

The Abd Rabbo family members emphasize that they are not [Hamas] activists
and that they are still loyal to the Fatah movement, but that they were
unable to prevent the armed squads from entering their neighborhood at
night. One family member, Hadi (age 22) said: "You can't say anything to the
resistance [fighters], or they will accuse you of collaborating [with
Israel] and shoot you in the legs."

[Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, Jan. 27, 2009]