Hamas gunmen are using Palestinians as human shields, and are firing at IDF troops from the vicinity of UN facilities, Defense Minister Ehud Barak told UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Red Cross President Jacob Kellenberger during a meeting in Tel Aviv on Thursday. The defense minister stated that IDF soldiers would continue to return fire in self-defense. Barak added that the IDF would continue to prevent harm to civilians to the best of its ability, and said all necessary humanitarian work of the UN would be facilitated.