According to a report released on Thursday by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center, 32 of the 40 Palestinians killed during or after events of the riots along the Gaza-Israel border have been identified as terrorists, making up for 80% of fatalities.
Nine men were operatives either in Hamas’s Izz al-Din Qassam Brigades or in Hamas’ security forces, while nine others were otherwise affiliated with or linked to Hamas. Ten were operatives of Fatah, two of which were members in its military branch and eight with organizational affiliation or connections. Fatah in the Gaza Strip is involved in carrying out terrorist attacks against Israel.
In addition, two of the men belonged to the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), one to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), and one to Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
The majority of the men killed were shot while rioting against IDF troops. Others were killed while attempting to carry out attacks, breach the security fence or in IDF operations seeking terrorists who had carried out attacks during the riots.
The terrorist organization, which is in complete political and military control of the Gaza Strip, has a long history of deception at the expense of their citizens. Capt. Eythan Buchman, an IDF spokesman, noted in 2014, “It’s important to bear in mind that in Operation Cast Lead [the previous Israeli ground offensive in Gaza in December 2008-January 2009], Hamas and Gaza-based organizations claimed that only 50 combatants were killed, admitting years later the number was between 600-700, a figure nearly identical to the figure claimed by the IDF.”
An Israeli military source said that despite the drop in participants, the level of violence had increased and the IDF observed more women and children at the frontline of the riots – a deliberately attempt by Hamas to put civilians in harm’s way.
In a first, the European Parliament acknowledged Hamas’s unlawful deployment of human shields – a war crime under international law – in a resolution passed on April 19. The European Parliament denounced Hamas as a terrorist group that uses human shields, calls for Israel’s destruction and “seems to aim at escalating tensions” at the Gaza-Israel border. The motion, passed with 524 “yes” votes, 30 “no” votes, and 92 abstentions, also calls for the release of Israeli citizens and the bodies of fallen soldiersfrom Gaza.
It also stated that “Hamas continues to keep the population under control and pressure in the Gaza Strip, which remains a hub of internationally recognized terrorist organizations,” and heavily curtails “basic freedoms, including of association and expression.”
The resolution further acknowledged “Israel’s security challenges and the need to protect its territory and borders” and denounced “the terror attacks of Hamas and other militant groups against Israel from the Gaza Strip, including the firing of rockets, infiltrations into Israeli territory, and the building of tunnels.”
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