The Palestinian resistance group Hamas issued a strong condemnation in response to a recent investigation by Israel’s Haaretz daily which uncovered the Israeli army’s systematic use of Palestinian civilians as human shields during military operations in Gaza, Anadolu reports.

The report, which detailed how Gazans, including minors and the elderly, were forced to accompany Israeli soldiers while inspecting tunnels and buildings, has sparked outrage among Palestinian leaders.

Hamas leader Izzat al-Rishq released a statement describing the actions revealed in the Haaretz investigation as clear war crimes that necessitate international condemnation and legal pursuit.

“What has been exposed by Haaretz, showing the Israeli occupation forces using Palestinian civilians as human shields while inspecting tunnels and buildings in Gaza, reaffirms that they are committing well-documented war crimes that must be condemned by the entire world,” al-Rishq said.