Human Rights Watch disputes Hamas claims it did not target Israeli civilians

Human rights group: Hamas targeted civilians

JERUSALEM — A leading human rights group has disputed Hamas claims that it did not target civilians during last year’s Gaza war.

Human Rights Watch says Hamas’ contention that it aimed its hundreds of rockets at Israeli military targets and only accidentally harmed civilians is contradicted by the facts.

Researcher Bill van Esveld said Thursday that most of the rockets hit civilian areas, suggesting Hamas deliberately targeted civilians. He said their actions amounted to war crimes.

The rocket fire killed three Israeli civilians.

About 1,400 Gazans, many of them civilians, were killed in the three-week long Gaza war.

Both Israel and Hamas have rejected charges of war crimes and appear ready to ignore a U.N. demand for internal investigations.