Daijiworld Media Network – Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv, Sep 4: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Wednesday released an audio recording claiming that Hamas was preventing civilians in Gaza from evacuating, allegedly using them as human shields.

The tape, shared by COGAT – the Israeli defence body overseeing civilian policy in Gaza and the West Bank – features a purported conversation between an IDF officer and a Gaza City resident. In the exchange, the resident is heard saying, “We want to leave, but they are blocking the way,” when asked about attempts to move south.

When pressed if he was referring to Hamas, the civilian replies, “Yes. They tell us, ‘Go back home, there is no evacuation. Go back, go back.’” The man further adds that people were afraid to cross and that some were seeking side routes, while Hamas was positioned near Al-Nablusi and other coastal areas, redirecting movement through destroyed houses instead of main roads.

The release of the audio comes amid Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza, which entered a new phase last month. Overnight strikes across the territory reportedly killed at least 31 people, according to hospital sources in the enclave.