The Human Shields

A New Depth of Cruelty

For years, we have heard the accusation that Palestinians use human shields. It is repeated so often that it has become an unquestioned talking point in Western media. And yet, case after case proves that it is Israeli forces who systematically engage in this crime. We have seen Palestinians tied to military vehicles, forced to march ahead of soldiers into danger, and used as cover during operations. But I have hardly seen a case as cruel, nauseating, and disgusting as this.

In May 2024, during a military operation in Gaza's Zeitoun neighborhood, Israeli soldiers from the Nahal Brigade subjected an elderly Palestinian couple to severe abuse. An 80-year-old man, who required a cane to walk, was forcibly used as a human shield by having an explosive cord tied around his neck. Soldiers threatened to detonate the device if he disobeyed, compelling him to inspect houses for potential threats over eight hours.

After this traumatic ordeal, the soldiers ordered the elderly couple to evacuate. Tragically, when they attempted to move, another battalion spotted them and shot them dead in the street—treating them as potential threats simply because they were moving. This incident highlights the brutal and systematic nature of the Israeli military's tactics, and it underscores the indiscriminate violence faced by innocent Palestinians.

Now, this is not an isolated incident. The practice of using Palestinians as human shields is so routine in the Israeli military that it even has a name: the “mosquito protocol.” It involves forcing civilians—men, women, even children—to enter potentially booby-trapped buildings and tunnels ahead of soldiers. HaMakom's investigation confirmed that this protocol is widely used, despite the Israeli army officially denying its existence. Soldiers who spoke to the media described it as an open secret: orders are given at the battalion level, and when questions arise, responsibility is passed down the chain of command until there is no one left to hold accountable.

Reports have documented instances where Israeli soldiers have used Palestinian civilians, including children, as human shields during military operations. For example, in May 2023, Defence for Children International – Palestine (DCIP) reported that Israeli forces used five Palestinian children as human shields, with two of the victims being 2-year-old twins. Additionally, in October 2024, The Guardian reported that Israeli troops in Gaza forcibly used Palestinian civilians to enter homes and tunnels ahead of soldiers, exposing them to potential booby-traps and gunfire.

These actions not only contravene the Geneva Conventions but also Israeli law, which ostensibly prohibits such practices. The case involving the 80-year-old Palestinian man represents a particularly harrowing example of this misconduct. According to reports, Israeli forces placed explosives around the elderly man's neck, forcing him to act as a human shield while they conducted searches in Gaza. Despite his frailty and reliance on a walking stick, he was coerced into dangerous situations under threat of detonation. Tragically, both he and his wife were later shot dead by Israeli soldiers.

And yet, no accountability will come from within Israel. The army has already dismissed the reports. There will be no real investigation, no consequences—only more denials and more deaths.

These incidents underscore a disturbing pattern of behavior that not only undermines Israel's moral standing but also perpetuates the cycle of violence and mistrust in the region. While Israel continues to accuse Palestinian groups of endangering civilians, its own forces' actions reveal a blatant disregard for the safety and dignity of Palestinian lives.

What will be enough? Well, Israeli soldiers are themselves saying they are ordered to use Palestinians as human shields in Gaza, but even that will be met with lies and denials. Nothing is enough, because the truth is not the issue. They choose to close their eyes and then claim its dark. “War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.” But for the rest, the next time you hear the claim that Palestinians use human shields, remember this story. Every accusation is an admission.

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Article Series Zionism