The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Wednesday that Hamas sent a 4-year-old Palestinian boy to one of its outposts. The IDF says it returned the toddler to Gaza in coordination with international organizations.

“Hamas does not hesitate to use any means to cynically use and exploit civilians and children to advance its terrorism,” the IDF wrote on X.

The child allegedly told IDF soldiers that Hamas sent him, but Israel did not provide information on how the boy knew the terrorist organization sent him there.

IDF International Spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani condemned the incident in a post on X, saying that it demonstrated Hamas’ lack of care for civilians.

“Another reminder that Hamas doesn’t care about the people of Gaza and exploits them for terror,” Lt. Col. Shoshani wrote.