Some residents of the Gaza Strip are expelling representatives of the Palestinian Hamas movement and other security forces from their shelters, fearing that the shelters will become targets of attacks by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), The New York Times (NYT) writes, citing local residents.
one of them Nasser al-ZaninA man who fled his home in the northern Gaza Strip with his family told the newspaper that Hamas tried to station police officers in the shelter where he was staying. The movement said the move was aimed at ensuring security. However, according to the man, local residents decided to prevent the deployment of security forces.
“We just want to save all the families, women and children and not allow any potential threat to us due to the existence of the police and Hamas government members.” – said.
According to the newspaper’s source, residents allow police officers to be stationed outside buildings, but not inside.
Other refugees living in schools in central Gaza have reported similar attitudes, the NYT notes.
“Anyone with a gun or rifle will be expelled from this school quickly.” – said the 62-year-old man Saleh al-Kafarnehtaking refuge in a public school in Deir el-Balah. The man added that the door is closed all night.
Another resident, 57 years old. Mohammed Shehda al-ObwainiHe said he would fight any armed person if he found them in the school shelter.
Hamas uses the vast network of tunnels in the Gaza Strip to move between houses undetected and to hide hostages. Mines are often placed near or inside civilian objects; for example, on December 9, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) discovered the entrance to a militant tunnel in a school office.
The Israeli side believes that Hamas is using people as human shields, as expressed by the former Israeli ambassador to Moscow in an interview with RBC. Alexander Ben ZviHamas says people, including hostages held by militants, are dying because of Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip.
