Palestinians and some Israeli soldiers have told the Associated Press (AP) that Israeli troops are systematically using Palestinian civilians as human shields during operations in Gaza, despite the practice being prohibited under international law.
Ayman Abu Hamadan, a 36-year-old Palestinian, said he was held by Israeli forces for over two weeks last summer in northern Gaza. He was blindfolded, beaten, and forced to enter buildings dressed in military gear with a camera strapped to his head to check for explosives or armed fighters. “They told me: ‘Do this or we’ll kill you,’” he said.
When one unit was done with him, he was handed off to another. Orders for this practice often came from higher command, said an Israeli officer who spoke anonymously, claiming that nearly every platoon used Palestinians in this way.
The AP interviewed seven Palestinians from Gaza and the occupied West Bank who said they were used as human shields, along with two Israeli soldiers who admitted to participating in the practice.
Israel’s military denies the allegations, saying it strictly bans the use of civilians as shields and continues to blame Hamas for civilian casualties. However, rights groups warn the use of human shields by Israeli troops has become widespread during the ongoing 19-month war in Gaza.