Terrorists use mosques during fighting

A map seized by IDF Paratroopers forces during the military operation in the Gaza Strip illustrates how Hamas terrorists have been using religious buildings as shelters during their actions against Israeli forces in the strip. The map shows a drawing of the battlegrounds in a particular area of northern Gaza, with breakdowns of where to deploy and where to lay explosive devices. The areas where the explosives were to be laid are heavily populated urban areas.
"On the map, the terrorists also marked sniper positions, as well as the location of roadside bombs, antitank bombs and land mines," Chief Intelligence Officer Brig.-Gen. Yuval Halamish said on Thursday. Halamish said the map showed how Hamas does not hesitate to use civilian infrastructure for its terrorist activity. A brown dot marked next to a mosque represents a sniper position. "This is a civilian area, and you can see on the map how Hamas booby-trapped the entrance to homes to hit the IDF," Halamish said. In another case, a large bomb was marked next to a gas station. Had it been detonated it would have likely destroyed the gas station, killing and wounding civilians who live in the area.