Human rights group: Hamas targeted civilians

JERUSALEM — A prominent international human rights group on Thursday disputed Hamas' claim that it did not target civilians during last year's war against Israel, saying there was strong evidence the Islamic militant group intentionally aimed its rockets at Israeli towns.

The criticism from New York-based Human Rights Watch drew fresh attention to Hamas' actions in the three-week war, during which about 1,400 Palestinians — most of them civilians — and 13 Israelis were killed. Most international criticism, including by Human Rights Watch, has been directed toward Israel.

Both Israel and Hamas face a Feb. 5 deadline to respond to allegations in a U.N. report that they committed war crimes during the fighting. The report urged both sides to conduct independent investigations into the allegations, and both have signaled they will not comply, though they have not delivered formal responses.

In an internal Hamas document obtained by The Associated Press, the Islamic militant group said that its rocket and mortar fire was directed solely at military targets and that any civilian casualties were accidental.

Palestinian militants fired some 800 rockets and mortar shells into Israel during the conflict, killing three civilians and wounding about 80. More than 800 others sustained minor injuries.

"Most of the rocket attacks on Israel hit civilian areas, which suggests that civilians were the target," said Bill van Esveld, a researcher for Human Rights Watch. "Deliberately targeting civilians is a war crime."

Van Esveld added that statements from Hamas leaders during the fighting made clear that they intended to harm Israeli civilians.

He said Hamas also committed war crimes by firing rockets from populated areas, which endangered the local population in Gaza by raising the likelihood of Israeli retaliation.

"Fighters intentionally fired rockets from near civilians in order to shield themselves from counter attacks," he said.

Israel launched its offensive on Dec. 27, 2008, in an attempt to halt years of Hamas rocket fire. Around 1,400 Palestinians, including some 900 civilians, were killed during the conflict, according to Palestinian and international human rights groups.

The U.N. report, compiled by former war crimes prosecutor Richard Goldstone, leveled tough allegations at both Israel and Hamas. The U.N. General Assembly in November called on both sides to open independent investigations into their actions, giving them until Feb. 5 to respond.