The Cost of War: Why Hamas Bears the Blame for Gaza’s Civilian Casualties

 

It is Hamas, not Israel, that is responsible for the civilian casualties in Gaza, as they continue to use schools and hospitals as shields for their military operations.

In the ongoing and deeply tragic Israel-Hamas conflict, one might say that Gaza’s landscape has become a twisted game of hide and seek, where Hamas hides, and Israel seeks, often with devastating consequences. Yet, it is not merely a game; it is a complex and brutal conflict where civilians find themselves caught in the crossfire, particularly in places like schools and hospitals.

Since October 2023, Israel has been embroiled in what has become one of the most intense and deadly conflicts with Hamas, a militant group that controls the Gaza Strip. The escalation began with a surprise Hamas attack on Israel, leading to a significant and prolonged military response. Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist organization by many countries, including the United States and the European Union, is notorious for its strategy of embedding military assets within civilian infrastructure. This tactic complicates Israel's military operations, as it often necessitates strikes on areas that should otherwise be sanctuaries—like schools and hospitals.

The necessity for such strikes, although regrettable, stems from Hamas' calculated use of civilian structures for military purposes. Hospitals in Gaza, for example, are not just places of healing but have been repurposed as command and control centers by Hamas. Similarly, schools, which should be places of learning and safety, are used to launch rockets and store weapons. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) argue that these tactics leave them with no choice but to target these buildings to neutralize threats. Recently, Israeli airstrikes targeted a school in Gaza City, resulting in significant casualties. The IDF later confirmed that the school had been used by Hamas operatives to coordinate attacks against Israel.

This strategy by Hamas is not a new development; it has been part of their playbook for years. During the 2014 Gaza War, similar patterns were observed, where Hamas operatives used residential buildings and civilian infrastructure to launch attacks. The tragic outcome is often the same—high civilian casualties that spark international outrage and condemnation of Israel. Yet, it is crucial to recognize that these civilian deaths, as painful as they are, result from the deliberate tactics employed by Hamas to provoke a heavy-handed response from Israel. This approach aims to gain sympathy and political leverage on the global stage.

Israel's military operations, while intended to target Hamas operatives and infrastructure, inevitably lead to civilian casualties. This is a harsh reality of urban warfare, especially in densely populated areas like Gaza. The IDF has implemented measures to mitigate civilian harm, such as warning residents of impending strikes through leaflets, phone calls, and "roof knocking" (firing a non-explosive device at a building to warn of an imminent attack). However, these measures are not foolproof, and the tragic loss of civilian life continues.

International law, including the laws of armed conflict, prohibits the use of civilian infrastructure for military purposes. However, enforcing this in real-time, especially in a volatile conflict like the one between Israel and Hamas, is a challenge. Israel argues that its strikes on these sites are justified under the principle of military necessity. This principle allows for attacks on military targets, even if they are located within civilian areas, provided that the anticipated military advantage outweighs the potential harm to civilians. Critics, however, argue that Israel's actions sometimes violate the principle of proportionality, which seeks to limit harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure during military operations.

The human cost of this conflict is staggering. As of August 2024, the death toll in Gaza has surpassed 35,000, with tens of thousands more injured and displaced. These numbers are not just statistics; they represent a humanitarian catastrophe that continues to unfold daily. The international community, including the United States, Egypt, and Qatar, has repeatedly called for ceasefires and negotiations, yet the violence persists, driven by deep-seated enmities and conflicting objectives.

One cannot ignore the broader implications of this conflict on regional stability. The ongoing war has strained Israel’s relations with neighboring countries and has fueled tensions in Lebanon, where Hezbollah, another militant group, has clashed with Israeli forces along the border. The conflict also underscores the fragility of humanitarian efforts in the region, as international aid struggles to meet the overwhelming needs of those affected by the war.

In the end, the tragedy of Gaza’s schools and hospitals lies not only in the loss of life but in the perverse reality that these institutions, meant to nurture and heal, are turned into tools of war. As the world watches in horror, the question remains: how many more innocent lives will be sacrificed before peace prevails? Perhaps, in a twisted turn of irony, Hamas will one day learn that using civilians as shields in a battle of attrition is not just a war crime; it is a losing strategy—one that has only brought more suffering to the very people it claims to protect.