Conduct is considered a war crime according to the Geneva Convention; Israel’s army, in turn, stated that the use of human shields is strictly forbidden and investigations into possible violations is underway
Soldiers of and former Palestinian prisoners claim that the country’s armed forces have adopted the practice of using Palestinians as human shields in systematically. This conduct is considered a war crime according to the Geneva Convention. Communication vehicles, such as the Hareetz newspaper and Al Jazeera, also brought similar accusations. This practice is often cited by Israeli leaders to justify the high number of dead Palestinian civilians, who, according to Hamas officials, already reaches 53,000. Reports indicate that the Armed Forces have a Palestinian prisoners with military uniforms and sent to them to inspect explosives or identify Hamas terrorists.
Soldiers who were interviewed stated that this approach became common in the Gaza Strip and also began to be implemented in the West Bank. Israel’s army, in turn, stated that the use of human shields is strictly forbidden and investigations into possible violations is underway. A Palestinian who spent 17 days being used as a human shield reported that he was threatened with death if he did not follow the instructions.
Civil society organizations in Israel have accused the Armed Forces to employ this tactic for decades. Although a 2005 Supreme Court decision has banned this practice, soldiers say it has never been as systematic as today. In addition, a document obtained by AP reveals that at least one Palestinian used as a human shield was killed by Israeli soldiers, who confused him with a member of Hamas. This situation raises serious concerns about military practices in areas of conflict and the protection of human rights.
Posted by Sarah Paula
*Report produced with the aid of AI
