In response to recent reports, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have stated that civilian casualties are a consequence when targeting Hamas leadership hiding in civilian areas. The United Nations Secretary General has called for a full investigation into the reported incidents. The Israeli government spokesperson emphasized that Hamas uses civilians as human shields, deliberately placing fighters among them to generate sympathy and international pressure on Israel.
The IDF justified the use of a 2,000-pound bomb in response to direct attacks on soldiers, stating that warnings may not be feasible in such situations. They reiterated that every civilian casualty is a tragedy, contrasting with Hamas' strategy of using civilian casualties as a tactic.
