Recent reports have emerged accusing the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) of coercing Palestinian civilians into acting as human shields during operations in Gaza. Ramez al-Skafi, a 30-year-old Palestinian from northern Gaza, shared his harrowing experience, claiming that after his home was destroyed, he was detained and forced to assist the Israeli military in their efforts to locate explosives and combat Hamas fighters.
According to al-Skafi, over a span of ten days in July, he was used by the IDF as a human shield, being compelled to enter homes and tunnels ahead of soldiers under duress. \"I tried to resist their proposal, but they started beating me, and the officer told me it was not my choice to make,\" Skafi recounted.
The Guardian's report aligns with footage previously released by Al Jazeera, depicting a prisoner being forced into a tunnel while restrained and monitored by a camera. Additionally, Haaretz published an August report revealing that Palestinians, referred to as \"shawish\" by Israeli soldiers, were compelled to carry out reconnaissance missions in military uniforms.
Despite these serious allegations, the IDF has denied using civilians in combat roles, stating that their rules explicitly prohibit such practices and that any claims are under further review by relevant authorities. The Geneva Conventions also prohibit the use of civilians as human shields.
Testimonies from al-Skafi and other detainees present a troubling narrative, with multiple accounts describing forced tasks such as carrying drones into houses to film interiors before soldiers proceeded with destruction. Similar stories have been reported by CNN and the New York Times, citing IDF soldiers and former detainees.
Human rights organizations emphasize that these accounts highlight a persistent issue, despite existing prohibitions within both international law and Israeli regulations. The Guardian also referenced a 2010 case where IDF sergeants faced demotion for forcing a nine-year-old Palestinian boy to handle suspected explosive devices.
By delivering such accounts, the ongoing conflict’s human cost is brought into sharp focus, raising critical questions about military practices and the protection of civilians in conflict zones.
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Israeli army reportedly uses Palestinians as 'human shields' in Gaza
cgtn.com
