Israeli soldiers are using Palestinian civilians as human shields in Gaza to enter and clear tunnels and buildings they suspect may have been booby-trapped, a leading Israeli NGO and newspaper have reported.
The practice was so widespread across different units fighting in Gaza that it could in effect be considered a “protocol”, said Nadav Weiman, the executive director of Breaking the Silence, a group founded by Israeli combat veterans to document military abuses¹.
_________
Haaretz Investigation: Israeli Army Uses Palestinian Civilians to Inspect Potentially Booby-trapped Tunnels in Gaza²
Israel Defense Force troops operating in Gaza have been using Palestinian civilians as human shields, forcing them to enter tunnels and homes ahead of soldiers due to fears that the structures may be rigged with traps, the Haaretz daily reported on Tuesday.
The IDF said it was reviewing the allegations.
__________2. https://www.timesofisrael.com/report-idf-using-gazans-to-check-areas-that-may-be-booby-trapped-before-troops-enter/
