Reports abound about Hamas leaders and operatives hiding out among civilians in foreign missions, Gaza hospitals and even smuggling themselves via Red Crescent ambulances. Here are three such reports.
Reuters reports:
"The leaders of Hamas and the armed wing are hiding in bunkers, hospitals and foreign (diplomatic) missions," Israeli Cabinet Secretary Oved Yehezkel said Sunday, based on an intelligence briefing.
But Hamas officials reject Israeli insinuations that their behavior is cowardly.
Hamas parliamentarian Mushir al-Masri said on Sunday: "Martyrdom is our dearest wish, but God has ordered us not to pose ourselves as easy prey for our enemies."
The Jerusalem Post's Amir Mizroch notes:
Public Security Minister and former Israel Security Agency head Avi Dichter said Monday that on Jan. 10, those Hamas commanders who could move around made their way to Shifa Hospital in Gaza City to receive their salaries.
The Jerusalem Post's Yaakov Katz further reports:
A senior military officer who is commanding forces fighting inside Gaza said on Sunday that Hamas terrorists hiding inside Red Crescent ambulances were trying to cross the IDF line separating northern Gaza from the south.
