Gaza at War: Hamas Sniper Shoots Israeli Machine-Gunner [GRAPHIC FOOTAGE]

A Gaza-based news agency and Hamas mouthpiece has released a video that claims to show an Israeli machine-gunner in a tank opening fire before being shot dead by a Palestinian sniper.

In the footage, the soldier fires shots from his tank for approximately ten seconds before an accurate sniper strike brings an abrupt end to the tank's fire.

The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) hasn't confirmed that the footage of his death by the Hamas marksman is authentic.

Shehab news agency, which regularly post videos of Hamas militants speaking against Israel, released the unverified footage today, amassing more than 60,000 views.

It is believed the sniper was from Hamas' military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades.

The video is the latest piece of military propaganda published as Israel and Hamas both take to social media in an attempt to win the PR war.

The IDF has posted numerous video and photographic claims of Palestinian militants using civilian targets as human shields.

Thanks to the Iron Dome interceptor system and air raid shelters, casualties from Hamas rockets are minimised and many do not see the effect of the missiles entering Israel.

Meanwhile, Israeli air strikes on Gaza neighbourhoods have garnered disturbing images of hundreds of images of the civilian death toll, including photos of dead and injured children, that have been shared around the world.

Despite the public relations efforts of both the Israeli military and Hamas, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, condemned both parties for their attacks.

But Pillay added there is a "strong possibility" Israel is violating international law and may be committing war crimes in Gaza.

She also denounced Hamas' indiscriminate rocket attacks from the territory and said it is "not acceptable to locate military assets in densely populated areas or to launch attacks from there".

At least 649 Palestinians and 32 Israelis have been killed in Israel's ground and air offensive on the Gaza Strip, which sought to prevent Hamas rocket fire.

The video comes after footage was released of a Palestinian youth being killed by an alleged Israeli sniper while he lay on the floor.