In this 13 Jan 2009 file photo, smoke rises following explosions caused by Israeli military operations in Gaza CityA leading human rights group has accused Israel and the Palestinianmilitant group Hamas of war crimes during Israel's Gaza offensiveseveral months ago.

Amnesty International said in a reportThursday that Israeli troops targeted civilians in attacks. It saidtroops used civilians as human shields by forcing them to stay inhouses employed as military positions.

Amnesty also said rocketattacks by Hamas on Israel constituted war crimes, but dismissedIsraeli claims the militant group Hamas had used civilians as humanshields.

Israel blames Hamas for the heavy casualties in thefighting, accusing militants of using schools, mosques and residentialareas for cover.

Israel says it launched the late December Gazaoffensive to stop cross-border rocket attacks by Palestinianmilitants. Three weeks of fighting killed at least 1,300 Palestiniansand 13 Israelis. Amnesty says 300 Palestinian children were among thedead.

On Wednesday, rock-throwing Palestinians clashed with Israeli soldiers in the West Bank.

Israeliofficials say soldiers shot at the legs of four Palestinians who werethrowing rocks at Israeli vehicles not far from the city of Nablus.


Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.