I love Harper and his unwavering support for Israel. Normally the American president would be saying this, but with Obama that’s never going to happen.

OTTAWA – Terrorists are deliberately placing people in the path of an Israeli offensive aimed at stopping rocket attacks from Gaza, says Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Harper says there is evidence that Hamas, listed by Canada as a terrorist organization, is using human shields in its attempts to stave off the Israeli offensive.

“The indiscriminate rocket attacks from Gaza on Israel are terrorist acts, for which there is no justification,” Harper said in a statement issued Sunday.

“It is evident that Hamas is deliberately using human shields to further terror in the region.”

Harper also called on other world leaders to rally behind Israel as it tries to prevent rockets being fired from Gaza into its territory.

Silence, he suggested, would only embolden Israel’s attackers.

“Failure by the international community to condemn these reprehensible actions would encourage these terrorists to continue their appalling actions,” Harper said.

“Canada calls on its allies and partners to recognize that these terrorist acts are unacceptable and that solidarity with Israel is the best way of stopping the conflict.”

Harper’s statements came as Israel briefly deployed ground troops inside the Gaza Strip.