Haaretz investigation confirms Israeli army’s systematic use of Palestinians as human shields
Gaza (Quds News Network)- A new investigation by Haaretz has revealed that the Israeli military systematically uses Palestinian civilians, including children and elderlies, as human shields, a practice that violates international law and has long been condemned by human rights organizations. The report confirms that the practice is being carried out with the knowledge of senior military officers, up to the Chief of Staff.
The investigation reveals that young Palestinian men, often in their 20s, are being coerced into wearing Israeli military uniforms and are sent into dangerous areas, such as destroyed buildings and tunnel entrances, ahead of Israeli soldiers. Their hands are tied behind their backs, and they are equipped with cameras, while the soldiers monitor their movements from a safe distance. The purpose of this tactic, as admitted by some Israeli soldiers, is to protect Israeli lives at the expense of Palestinian civilians. “They told us that our lives are more important than theirs,” one soldier confessed.
According to the Haaretz investigation, this practice has become widespread in recent months, with the knowledge and approval of senior officers, including the Chief of Staff and the Southern Command leader, Yaron Finkelman. The investigation points to a troubling pattern where Palestinian civilians are selected by Israeli soldiers to serve as human shields, often under the pretext of performing essential tasks, such as clearing tunnels or searching for explosives. In many cases, these civilians are kept for extended periods, sometimes days, under harsh conditions.
Despite international laws prohibiting the use of human shields, the Israeli military has continued this practice, attempting to dismiss or downplay incidents when they have been exposed. For instance, a video aired by Al Jazeera two months ago showed Israeli soldiers dressing Palestinian detainees in military uniforms and forcing them to enter dangerous areas. The US State Department condemned the footage, but Israel claimed it was investigating the incidents and that they did not reflect the values of the Israeli army.
However, soldiers who have witnessed or participated in these operations have contradicted the official narrative. One soldier who spoke to Haaretz acknowledged that the use of human shields is not an isolated incident but a common practice known and sanctioned by commanding officers. The soldier described how, in one instance, a Palestinian man, visibly terrified, was forced to scout a tunnel while senior officers watched his movements on a monitor.
The investigation also uncovered that the use of human shields is not limited to adult men. In some cases, teenagers and elderly Palestinians have been coerced into these dangerous roles. A soldier recounted how, during a raid, a 16-year-old boy was forced to accompany the unit and was kept in their custody for several days, his hands bound and eyes covered.
This practice has deep roots, with the Haaretz report noting its similarities to the “neighbor procedure” used by the Israeli army during the 2002 Operation Defensive Shield in the West Bank, where civilians were forced to enter potentially booby-trapped buildings ahead of soldiers.
Despite the grave ethical and legal implications, the Israeli military has largely ignored calls to cease this practice. Soldiers who have raised concerns have been met with dismissal or reprimands, with higher-ranking officers insisting that the lives of Israeli soldiers take precedence over the lives of Palestinian civilians.
Palestinian officials and advocacy groups had previously documented dozens of cases where Israel’s military used Palestinians as human shields and repeatedly called for immediate international intervention and accountability for the Israeli military’s actions.
