Defense Minister Ehud Barak sought a legal opinion from the Justice Ministry Sunday as to whether it is permissible for the IDF to target Gaza terrorists who hide among civilians in populated areas.

Barak directed the question to Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann after Vice Premier Chaim Ramon insisted that international law permits soldiers to fire at rocket launching sites even when they are embedded within civilian areas.

"In the Second Lebanon War, it was clear that if [terrorists] shoot from within a village, one can fire at them even if the area is populated," said Ramon. The Justice Minister did not immediately render an opinion.