Israel Says Hamas Using Journalists As Human Shields

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

(Worthy News) – Israel’s military has denied allegations that it deliberately targets media offices and accused the militant group Hamas of using journalists as human shields.

A media watchdog group asked the International Criminal Court to investigate Israel’s bombing of buildings housing The Associated Press (AP) news agency and other media organizations in Gaza as a possible war crime.

The Paris-based Reporters Without Borders claimed in a letter to the court’s chief prosecutor that the offices of 23 international and local media organizations have been destroyed over the past six days.

The group said the Israeli military’s “intentional targeting of media organizations and intentional destruction of their equipment” could violate one of the court’s statutes.

It added that the attacks serve “to reduce, if not neutralize, the media’s capacity to inform the public.”

However, Israel’s military denied the allegations. It said Hamas “was operating inside the building” where AP had offices and accused the militant group of using journalists as human shields.

AP journalists and other tenants were safely evacuated after the Israeli military warned of an imminent strike Saturday. Israeli airstrikes then pulverized the high-rise building.

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