Barak to Ban, ICRC president: Hamas firing at IDF from near UN facilities

By ELANA KIRSH
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.