Hamas’s Terrorist Tactics vs. Israel’s Lawful Response

• Hamas as Terrorists: Hamas meets the definition of a terrorist group by using unlawful violence and intimidation against civilians to achieve political goals, exemplified by the October 7, 2023, attack that killed over 1,200 Israelis, predominantly non-combatants.

• IDF’s Distinct Approach: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) target Hamas fighters to neutralize threats, not to maximize civilian deaths, demonstrating a clear moral and legal distinction from Hamas’s deliberate civilian targeting.

• Hamas’s Illegal Tactics: Hamas violates international law, including the Geneva Conventions, by embedding among civilians, launching rockets from near Al-Shifa Hospital, and storing ammunition in UN schools, using civilians as human shields to deter Israeli strikes.

• Tunnel Network Misuse: By 2024, Hamas has built 300–400 miles of tunnels, diverting millions in humanitarian aid to hide fighters, store weapons, and enable attacks like October 7, while disguising operatives as civilians—a war crime under the Hague Regulations.

• Israel’s Humanitarian Efforts: Since October 7, 2023, Israel has facilitated over 1.2 million tons of aid—food, water, medical supplies—via 60,841 trucks by December 2024, despite Hamas’s theft and resale of aid, which exacerbates food insecurity for 1.8 million Palestinians, per UN reports.

• Hamas’s Human Shields: Gaza’s dense population (5,500 people per square kilometer) does not justify Hamas’s use of civilians as shields. This tactic, not IDF responses, increases civilian risks during lawful military operations.

• IDF’s Precision in Warfare: The IDF’s civilian-to-combatant casualty ratio in Gaza, estimated at 1:1 to 1:1.5, surpasses modern urban warfare standards (e.g., Iraq War’s 1:2 to 1:4), reflecting Israel’s commitment to minimizing civilian harm despite Hamas’s tactics.