WATCH: CNN Asks, 'Does Hamas Use Human Shields?'

Hamas' political leader Khaled Meshaal denied using human shields on CNN, but Randi Kaye reports on recent training manuals released by Hamas outlining how best to promote civilian casualties.

Haaretz

August 05, 2014

CNN Transcript:

"RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: A U.N. school inGazahit by an Israeli air strike. This U.N. employee rushes inside to get a look at the body count. At least 20 people are killed according to the Palestinian health ministry. As many as six other U.N. run shelters in Gaza schools have taken a hit from Israel. This is exactly what Hamas militants want you to see says the Israeli military accusing Hamas of purposely hiding rockets in facilities like these, using human shields and high civilian casualties to garner international sympathy.

Hamas' Political Leader denies that charge to CNN's Nic Robertson.

KHALED MESHAAL, HAMAS POLITICAL LEADER:Hamassacrifices itself for its people and does not use its people as human shield to protect its soldiers. These are lies and Hamas does not seek international sympathy through its own victims.

KAYE: If that is true then how does Hamas explain this? Just today, the idea of posted on its blog that it found this Hamas training manual in Gaza. While we can't confirm its authenticity, theIDFsays it explains how civilians can be used in urban warfare. The IDF claims the manual includes the benefits for Hamas when civilian homes are destroyed. And there is more to suggest Hamas may support human shields. Another of the group's political leader said this about their tactics during a 2008 battle between Israel and Gaza.

FATHI HAMAD, FMR. HAMAS INTERIOR MINISTER: They have formed human shields of the women, the children, the elderly, and the Mujahideen in order to challenge the Zionist bombing machine.

KAYE: Israel's prime minister talked about it during an interview on CNN.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAEL PRIME MINISTER: We've developed anti- missile systems to protect. We use anti-missile system to protect our civilians. They use their civilians to protect their missiles. That's the difference.

KAYE: Hamas has also been accused to deliberately firing rockets from Gaza neighborhoods and other densely populated civilian areas, charges they've denied. Even encouraging their own people to ignore Israel's leaflets which warned residence in Gaza of impending strikes.

Listen to what a spokesman for Hamas said on AL Aqsa TV in July.

MUSHIR AL-MASRI, HAMAS SPOKESPERSON: Stay in your homes as we promised you and do not comply with the war of rumors and psychological warfare the Zionist enemy is waging on you.

KAYE: The IDF released this video of Israeli military firing a warning shot. Then moments later, civilians emerge on the rooftop acting according to the IDF as human shields.

In Gaza, believing Hamas' word could mean the difference between life and death.

Randi Kaye, CNN, New York."