Fact check: Hamas hides its soldiers in school and hospitals

1. Summary of the results

The analyses reveal a complex picture regarding Hamas's alleged use of civilian infrastructure. Multiple international bodies including NATO, the United Nations, the European Union, the United States, and Israel have accused Hamas of using human shields in the Gaza Strip, specifically by storing weapons in civilian infrastructure, launching rockets from residential areas, and instructing residents to ignore Israeli evacuation warnings ^[1].

Israel has provided photographic evidence claiming to show Hamas placing weapons in and near UN facilities in Gaza, including schools ^[2]. The Israeli military consistently states that Hamas uses Gaza's civilians as human shields by operating within densely populated areas, humanitarian zones, schools and hospitals ^{[3] [4]}. However, these claims are denied by Hamas ^{[3] [4]}.

Notably, Israel's claims about Hamas fighters being present in medical or civilian facilities are often made without providing any evidence ^[5].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement omits several critical pieces of context:

• Counter-allegations exist: There are documented allegations that Israel itself uses Palestinians as human shields in Gaza, with testimonies from both Palestinians and Israeli soldiers, despite Israel's military denying this practice ^[6].
• Lack of evidence: Israel's claims about Hamas presence in civilian facilities frequently lack supporting evidence ^[5].
• Broader war crimes context: The statement ignores that Israel faces accusations of committing genocide in Gaza from human rights groups ^[7] and that Israeli soldiers are being referred to the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes ^[8].
• UN acknowledgment: The United Nations acknowledges the challenges it faces in delivering humanitarian assistance amidst the conflict, suggesting the complexity of operating in this environment ^[2].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The statement presents a one-sided narrative that could serve specific political interests:

• Israeli government and military officials would benefit from widespread acceptance of this narrative as it provides justification for military operations targeting civilian infrastructure.
• Pro-Israel advocacy groups would benefit as this framing shifts responsibility for civilian casualties away from Israeli forces.
• The statement lacks nuance by presenting allegations as established fact without acknowledging the absence of evidence in many cases ^[5] or the denials by Hamas ^{[3] [4]}.
• It omits the reciprocal allegations against Israel for using human shields ^[6], creating an incomplete picture that could mislead audiences about the conduct of both parties in the conflict.