Palestinian civilians and medics run to safety during an Israeli strike over a UN school in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, 17 Jan 2009Israel's military and the Palestinian militant group Hamas are dismissing accusations they are guilty of war crimes.

The Israeli military said that a report released Thursday by Amnesty International on Israel's offensive in Gaza last December and January ignores the country's efforts to minimize civilian casualties during the operation.

Israeli officials also accused the human rights group of being manipulated by Hamas.

Hamas accused Amnesty International of minimizing Israel's crimes and of ignoring the right of Palestinians to resist Israeli occupation.

Amnesty says in its report that it found evidence Israeli troops targeted civilians and used civilians as human shields by forcing them to stay in houses employed as military positions.

The report also says rocket attacks by Hamas on Israel constituted war crimes, but it dismisses Israeli claims the militant group Hamas used civilians as human shields.

Israel blames Hamas for the heavy casualties in the fighting, accusing militants of using schools, mosques and residential areas for cover.

Israel says it launched the late December Gaza offensive to stop cross-border rocket attacks by Palestinian militants. Three weeks of fighting killed at least 1,300 Palestinians and 13 Israelis. Amnesty says 300 Palestinian children were among the dead.

Amnesty's latest report also renews its criticism of Israel's use of white phosphorus during the Gaza offensive.

White phosphorus can be used to provide a smokescreen to hide the movements of troops but can produce extreme burns when it makes contact with skin. International law prohibits its use near civilians.

Amnesty weapons expert Chris Cobb-Smith says there was "absolutely no tactical reason whatsoever" for Israeli forces to fire white phosphorus munitions in areas like Gaza City.

Israel has said that its use of weapons during the Gaza offensive was in accordance with international law.