Israel accused of using Palestinians as human shields in Gaza, investigations underway

Israel, as of Saturday, May 24, 2025, is conducting investigations into multiple incidents in which its soldiers allegedly compelled Palestinians to act as human shields in Gaza.

Online media sources state that these cases involve forcing civilians into buildings and tunnels to scout for hidden explosives or armed individuals.

According to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF):

“The use of Palestinians as human shields, or otherwise coercing them to participate in military operations, is strictly prohibited in IDF orders.”

The military emphasized that any allegations of behavior that contradicts these directives are examined.

Also, in several cases, the Israeli military police criminal division (MPCID) claimed to have launched investigations into suspicions of such practices.

On Saturday, the Associated Press (AP) reported on multiple testimonies from both Palestinians and Israeli soldiers.

This indicated that the use of Palestinians as human shields has become widespread over the course of the 19-month conflict in Gaza.

The AP interviewed seven Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank who described being used in this way.

So also did two Israeli soldiers who admitted to participating in the practice, which is in clear violation of international law.

Human rights organizations have responded with deep concern, warning that the tactic appears to have become routine during the war.

Nadav Weiman, executive director of Breaking the Silence, a whistleblower group composed of former Israeli soldiers, called the accounts deeply troubling.

“These are not isolated accounts; they point to a systemic failure and a horrifying moral collapse,” he told AP.

Weiman further criticized the hypocrisy of condemning Hamas for using civilians as shields while Israeli forces reportedly do the same.

One Palestinian, Abu Hamadan, recounted his experience of being detained in August after being separated from his family.

He said Israeli soldiers informed him he would be assisting in a “special mission” and was forced for 17 days to enter homes and examine every ground opening for tunnels.

Soldiers remained behind him during these inspections and only entered the premises to damage or destroy them once he deemed them clear.

The AP also reported that the two Israeli soldiers who admitted to the practice, revealed that commanders were aware of and condoned the tactic.

A third soldier, along with these two soldiers also gave testimony to Breaking the Silence,

Some even issued direct orders for it.

They noted that within the military, the practice was known as the “mosquito protocol,” and that Palestinians were referred to using dehumanizing terms such as “wasps.”

These soldiers claimed the approach was used to hasten operations, conserve ammunition, and avoid placing combat dogs at risk.

Additional corroboration came from an October report by The Guardian, which collected testimonies from former Palestinian detainees.

Their accounts matched much of what AP had reported.

While the IDF acknowledged that investigations were underway, it offered no further details on the status or scope of these inquiries.

The first public evidence of Palestinians being forcibly used to enter houses and tunnels in Gaza emerged in video footage aired by Al Jazeera in June and July 2024.

In August, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz published an investigation that included testimonies from soldiers confirming the practice.

According to their accounts, Palestinians used as human shields were referred to as “shawish,” a Turkish term meaning “sergeant.”

These reports indicated that the practice had become institutionalized and was sanctioned by senior officers.

Despite the Israeli Supreme Court issuing an injunction in 2002 against the so-called “neighbour procedure”, the use of human shields has persisted.

The ‘neighbour procedure’ involved detaining a Palestinian and forcing them to knock on the doors of other residents during security operations,

In a particularly disturbing 2010 case, two IDF staff sergeants were demoted after forcing a nine-year-old Palestinian boy to open bags suspected of containing explosives.

In summary, the IDF faces growing scrutiny over these serious allegations.

The allegations point not only to isolated misconduct but to potentially systemic issues within the military command structure.

The investigations are ongoing amid widespread condemnation from human rights groups and increasing international concern.

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