n Storing munition in Gaza center poses dangersAPALESTINIAN human rights organization based in Gaza has taken the highly unusual step of turning its criticism on Hamas, condemning the manufacture and storage of rockets in densely populated areas. The rockets are those fired into Israel, actions which have done little more than harass Israelis living near the border with Gaza. Using innocent civilians as human shields to prevent attacks on munitions stores should be condemned. Whatever justification they may have for building and hiding the rockets, there is no justification for those forces putting their own people into the danger inherent in living near weapons storage areas. It may protect the munitions from Israeli attack, but accidents can happen. The Palestinian Center for Human Rights has determined that shrapnel from locally produced missiles recently wounded a 22-year-old woman and her seven-month-old baby. Hamas did not help their case when they blamed Israel for the landing of what were clearly locally produced rockets on Palestinian targets. When military forces make mistakes, they should own up to them. As purported protectors of their own people, they have shown disregard for the safety of those they claim to be protecting. Gazans certainly have the right to maintain an effective military, given the constant threat from Israel that has instilled a chronic fear in the population. But the rockets that are periodically fired at Israeli towns across the border have apparently proven ineffective in accomplishing anything other than provocation of the enemy. Basing the seeds of this provocation in populated areas can only have disastrous consequences. Sensible resistance is the only justified path to victory. Putting the population that one purports to be protecting intentionally in harm's way is disingenuous, at best. __
