IDF launches probe into at least 6 cases of troops using Palestinians as human shields in Gaza – report

The IDF Military Police has launched investigations into at least six cases where troops operating in the Gaza Strip used Palestinians as human shields, Haaretz reports.

There have been several reports amid the war of soldiers sending detained Palestinians to search buildings and tunnels before troops did, endangering their lives.

The IDF confirms the Haaretz report, saying: “The IDF acts in accordance with international law and military values. The IDF’s instructions clearly prohibit the use of human shields or forcing people to participate in military missions. The protocols and guidelines on the subject were routinely clarified for soldiers on the ground during the war. Claims of conduct that do not meet the guidelines and protocols are examined.”

The military says that “in several cases, investigations by the Military Police Investigatory Unit were opened after suspicion arose of [troops] using Palestinians for military missions during the fighting. Investigations in these cases are ongoing, and naturally, they cannot be elaborated upon.”