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Where does Trump’s claim that Hamas will use captives as ‘human shields’ come from?
Over the past 24 hours, the US president has warned Hamas twice against using Israeli captives as “human shields” during Israel’s invasion of Gaza City.
Today, the US president suggested that Hamas itself has expressed that intent. “They put it out two days ago that they’re going to use the hostages as human shield,” Trump said.
In reality, the claim comes from a report by the Israeli public broadcaster, Kan, which cited unidentified Palestinian sources as saying that Hamas is moving the captives to homes and tents above ground to complicate the fighting for Israel.
Hamas has repeatedly warned that Israel’s bombardment and starvation campaign in Gaza also affects the captives. Dozens of Israeli captives have already been killed, including many in suspected Israeli air strikes.
Early in September, Hamas released a video of one of the captives filmed in a car in Gaza City. But the group has never threatened to use the captives as human shields.
‘Lies’: Hamas dismisses Israeli justification for destroying Gaza City
The Palestinian group has pushed back against Israeli claims that it is systematically destroying residential towers in Gaza because they were being used by Hamas.
“The claims of the enemy army spokesman regarding the resistance’s use of residential towers in Gaza City for military purposes are nothing but blatant lies,” it said in a statement.
“The enemy tries to justify its crimes to cover up its systematic destruction of Gaza City, just as it previously destroyed the cities of Rafah, Khan Yunis, Jabalia, Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahia.”
Israeli officials, including Defence Minister Israel Katz, have revelled in levelling what remains of Gaza City.
On Sunday, Katz shared footage of a high-rise building in Gaza being obliterated by an Israeli strike, with the caption: “The house of cards. The skyline of Gaza is changing.”
