AP report alleges systematic Israeli use of human shields in Gaza; military says it’s probing cases

Israeli soldiers are systematically using Palestinian detainees as human shields to clear buildings of bombs in Gaza, according to an Associated Press report citing testimonies of Palestinians and Israeli whistleblowers.

Dressed in army fatigues with a camera fixed to his forehead, Ayman Abu Hamadan was forced into houses in the Gaza Strip to make sure they were clear of bombs and gunmen, he tells The Associated Press. When one unit finished with him, he was passed to the next.

“They beat me and told me: ‘You have no other option; do this or we’ll kill you,'” the 36-year-old says, describing the 2 1/2 weeks he was held last summer by the Israeli military in northern Gaza.

Orders often came from the top, and at times nearly every platoon used a Palestinian to clear locations, an Israeli officer says, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.

Several Palestinians and soldiers tell the AP that Israeli troops are systematically forcing Palestinians to act as human shields in Gaza, sending them into buildings and tunnels to check for explosives or militants. The dangerous practice has become ubiquitous during 19 months of war, they say.

In response to these allegations, Israel’s military says it strictly prohibits using civilians as shields, a practice it has long accused Hamas of using in Gaza.

In a statement to the AP, the military says it also bans coercing civilians to participate in operations, and “all such orders are routinely emphasized to the forces.”

The military says it’s investigating several cases alleging that Palestinians were involved in missions, but wouldn’t provide details. It didn’t answer questions about the reach of the practice or any orders from commanding officers.

The AP spoke with seven Palestinians who described being used as shields in Gaza and the West Bank and with two members of Israel’s military who say they engaged in the practice, which is prohibited by international law. Rights groups are ringing the alarm, saying it’s become standard procedure increasingly used in the war.

The IDF said in March that it had launched investigations into at least six cases where troops operating in the Gaza Strip allegedly used Palestinians as human shields. It has said that such conduct is prohibited, and that this has been made clear to troops.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.