US calls on Israel to investigate use of Gaza civilians as human shields

The United States has urged Israel to hold its military accountable following a New York Times report revealed that Israeli forces have been using Palestinian civilians as human shields during their operations in Gaza.

The report detailed how at least 11 Israeli military units in five different locations forced Palestinian civilians into dangerous tasks, such as searching for explosives or inspecting tunnels, to shield soldiers from harm.

State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, called the report “deeply disturbing” and stressed that such actions are “completely unacceptable” and violate international humanitarian law.

He said: “There can be no justification ever for the use of civilians as human shields. It would be a violation not just of international humanitarian law, but of the [Israeli army] IDF’s own code of conduct.”

The report included an account from a 17-year-old Palestinian boy who was forcibly taken by soldiers and made to walk ahead of them to detect explosives before being released without charge.

This comes after an investigation by Haaretz in August revealed that Israeli forces are detaining Palestinian civilians from Gaza and using them as human shields to search tunnels and houses before soldiers enter, with the full knowledge of senior Israeli officers.

According to the report, many Israeli soldiers and commanders defended the practice, telling Haaretz, “Our lives are more important than their lives.”

READ: Israel Defence Forces use civilians in Gaza as human shields, says Haaretz