Israel army probing soldiers' use of Palestinians as human shields

Israel’s Military Police is investigating six cases in which Israeli occupation soldiers forced Palestinian civilians in Gaza to serve as human shields in violation of international law.

The probe comes in response to a Red Cross report released in January highlighting the abuse of Palestinians by occupation soldiers.

The investigation also covers possible abuses at Gaza’s Netzarim Corridor where civilians were indiscriminately shot after routinely being classed as “terrorists”, Haaretz reported.

International news organisations have reported for months about Israel’s violations of international law through its use of Palestinians as human shields.

In October, CNN reported that the Israeli occupation army forced Palestinian detainees into potentially booby-trapped buildings and tunnels to avoid casualties among its ranks.

The report was based on testimonies from Israeli soldiers who said: “We told them to enter the building before us. If there are any booby traps, they will explode and not us.”The practice is so commonplace that Israeli forces pejoratively call it the “mosquito protocol”.

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