Israeli Army (Still) Uses Palestinians as Human Shields

Contrary to claims that these are isolated incidents, the facts show that the Israeli military has a "long-standing practice" of using human shields

Recent reports have confirmed that the Israeli military is systematically committing heinous war crimes against Palestinians, including raping Palestinian prisoners, bombing designated safe zones hundreds of times, and using Palestinian civilians as human shields as ‘protocol’. These acts of brutality are indefensible, yet they continue with no meaningful accountability. Even more troubling is the United States' response to these war crimes, which is to send Netanyahu an additional $23.5 billion in military aid in stark violation of U.S. and international human rights law.

Let’s Address This.

The justification often cited by Israel for its indiscriminate bombing of Gaza is that "Hamas uses human shields." This claim has been used to rationalize the bombing of schools and hospitals, refugee centers and food distribution centers, apartment buildings, churches, and mosques. But now as reports from credible sources like Haaretz and The Guardian expose that over the last 10 months, it is the Israeli military that has systemically used Palestinians as human shields, the global response is relative silence. The UK Guardian reports:

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. 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 abuses. “We heard it from different units, fighting in different times and different places inside Gaza,” Weiman said. “Then we understood it’s something a lot more widespread – or even, I could say, a protocol – in the IDF.”

These are Israeli soldiers admitting that using Palestinians as human shields is not isolated, but “protocol.” And likewise, consider the Israeli military’s dehumanizing ‘justification’ to use Palestinians as human shields:

One soldier had been told Palestinian civilians were being used to replace the dog units that search for explosives “because too many dogs had died”, he added.

Sadly, this isn’t the first time during this siege on Gaza that Palestinians have documented the Israeli military using them as human shields. In June a video emerged of a Palestinian strapped to the hood of an Israeli military vehicle.

NPR reports that they spoke to the man’s cousin who confirmed that the Israeli military shot at him, tortured him, and tied him to the hood of their jeep:

The man’s cousin, Ezer Azmi, said he witnessed the incident. He claims Israeli troops shot his cousin, who he says was left bleeding in the road for hours before they beat him and then placed him on the hood of the vehicle. “This is not acceptable to us or anyone else, nor anyone who fears God,” Azmi told NPR. He said that his cousin was not involved in any terrorism activities.

Notably, this June incident was not in Gaza, but in the West Bank, where Israeli settlers and extremists have launched unprecedented violence against Palestinian civilians. Likewise, the Israeli military faced no repercussions or limit in funding from the U.S. government for this documented war crime. But this is nothing new.

Indeed, far from being an isolated incident, Israel’s use of Palestinians as human shields goes back decades without consequence. So prevalent was this barbaric practice that way back in 2005 the Israeli Supreme Court was forced to issue a formal ban on the Israeli military using Palestinians for human shields. As The Guardian confirmed way back then:

The Israeli high court yesterday ruled that the army's long-standing practice of using Palestinian civilians as human shields in combat is illegal under international law. It said the military's claim to have amended the procedure to allow civilians to "volunteer" to work with the army was still unacceptable because it was unlikely anyone would freely do so.

And despite this ruling, now nearly two decades later, Israeli soldiers once again admit that the use of Palestinians as human shields is “protocol.” This revelation should be making headlines worldwide, yet it has barely registered in public discourse. The Leahy Laws, which prohibit the U.S. from providing military aid to foreign military units that commit gross human rights abuses, should apply here. Yet, the U.S. government continues to support Israel's military operations, effectively turning a blind eye to these documented atrocities. This decision is both morally indefensible and also sets a dangerous precedent for future misuse and abuse of military arms.

Netanyahu's actions are particularly egregious given the recent developments surrounding a potential ceasefire. Hamas accepted a proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release—one that Netanyahu himself had proposed. However, Netanyahu then rejected his own proposal, choosing instead to continue his onslaught on Gaza, demanding a ceasefire from Hamas while maintaining the right to continue bombing Gaza. This is not the behavior of a leader seeking peace; it is the behavior of one committed to perpetuating violence and oppression. Most assuredly, our tax dollars should not be funding his war crimes.

It needs to be said, that notwithstanding the Israeli military’s confirmed use of human shields, any attack on an Israeli hospital, school, or residence under the ‘justification’ that Israel hides behind human shields would be categorically condemned. The question therefore is, why don’t Palestinian civilians get that same level of justice, protection, and humanity when Israel systemically bombs Palestinian hospitals, schools, mosques, churches, and homes in Gaza and the West Bank?

Recently, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined more than 40 Democrats to demand a cessation of arms to Netanyahu. This is a step in the right direction, but words alone are not enough. We need action. It is time for the international community, and particularly the United States, to confront and stop these war crimes. We cannot claim to stand for human rights while funding Netanyahu as he destroys Palestinian lives. The world cannot afford to look away any longer. It is long past time to end our complicity in this genocide, and demand justice for the Palestinian people.

Why Your Support Matters: Your support makes my advocacy possible. Every dollar we spend is a vote for the kind of future we want. Help me create a future more committed to justice and universal human rights. Thank you for subscribing.