Zionists’ systematic use of Palestinians as “human shields”
According to Al-Mayadeen, a number of Israeli soldiers and a number of Palestinian detainees told The Associated Press that Israeli forces are systematically using Palestinians as human shields in the Gaza Strip, sending them into buildings and tunnels to search for explosives.
They noted that this dangerous practice has become commonplace during the 19-month war.
Seven Palestinians told the news agency that they were using themselves as human shields in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Two members of the regime’s military also said they participated in this dangerous practice, which is prohibited by international law.
Human rights groups have sounded the alarm, saying that this dangerous practice has increasingly become a normal practice in the war.
Ayman Abu Hamdan, a Palestinian citizen arrested in August, testified that the occupation forces forced him to search houses and holes in the ground for 17 days to find tunnels.
Abu Hamdan added: “They beat me and told me: ‘You have no choice. Do this or we will kill you.’”
An Israeli officer, who asked not to be named, also testified that orders often came from above. “Sometimes, almost every military group would use a Palestinian to evacuate positions,” he declared.