Israeli IDF commander uses Palestinian Human Shields

Palestinians have long complained about the Israeli army's use of human shields, but evidence was difficult to obtain.

This week, a video clip filmed by a foreign peace activist and aired on Israel's Yedioth Ahronot newspaper Web site, prompted the Israeli army to suspend a commander whose troops forced two Palestinian youths in the occupied West Bank of Nablus last Wednesday to stand in front of their vehicle to protect it from stones thrown by other civilians -- the latest evidence that the Israeli army still uses Palestinian human shields in violation of international law and a 2005 ruling by the Israeli Supreme Court against the inhumane practice.

The Israeli army said in a statement Friday that the soldiers who appeared in the video "apparently made prohibited use of civilians" and that the unit's commander would be suspended "from all operational activity, in addition to the ongoing investigation into the matter."

Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti said the suspension failed to address the fundamental problem. "They are treating it as an isolated incident," he said. "The problem is systematic and ... they (Israeli occupation forces) continue the practice despite the court order."

The use of human shields highlights one of the several human rights violations committed by Israel as it enters its fifth decade of military occupation in the West Bank. International law, including the Geneva Conventions and Hague regulations, bans placing civilians in harm's way during military operations.

The 2005 Supreme Court ruling was prompted by an outcry over the military's use of Palestinian human shields in a 2002 offensive in the West Bank. The army defended the illegal practice at the time, claiming that it never allowed its troops to use civilians for cover during battles.

But in August 2002, a 19-year-old Palestinian student was killed in a gun battle that broke out after he was forced to knock on the door of a building where a wanted fighter was hiding.

Avichay Sharon, 25, a former Israeli commando who served from 2000 to 2003, asserts that the use of "human shields" remains common.

"When you have to decide between risking your soldiers' lives or just a Palestinian bystander, the solution ... suddenly becomes much more logical than it sounds,'' said Sharon belongs to "Breaking the Silence,'' a group of former soldiers who say army tactics in the West Bank are hurting Israel's moral character.

"Everyone has done it, seen it, witnessed it."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• israel
• palestine
• arab
• conflict
• human
• shields
• use
• IDF
• nablus
• west
• bank
• gaza
• collective
• punishment
• olmert
• netanyahu
• arafat

[yamov]

this is bunch of bullshit just cus 2 guys are standing there and the film crew is screaming that they are human shields dosent mean anything! i dont see any proofs of danger to those 2 guys in this video, nor do i see proofs for said "investigation" by the idf

this video is propaganda bullshit!

[sealoevertje]

Hahaha, wat een goeie actie, zo pak je die moslim apen wel terug

[djomercohen]

lies

[crate718]

call me morbid, but i find this video funny, jews found positive job for hamas, make peace with them by looking at each others, monkey face's, they get confused

[ori11494]

בס"ד

At least you said that the incident was investigated. Too bad you do not show how Hamas used Palestinian civilians as human shields.

[jakobeckert]

@yamov AGREED, this is a pathetic excuse of used palestinians as human shields, and if the Palestinians did do as the Israeli soldier just tried to tell the cameraman, then they could've went to speak to the stone throwers, instead they stood in front of the jeep (with no sign of force by the IDF soldier sitting in THE BACK OF THE CAR!) and there could've been some simple conflict resolution, instead of this BS, which undermines the liberties that are in deed taken away from Palestinians

[TRBNGR666]

rat like cowards

[maquoketastudiosjr]

@goldenmsh @goldenmsh shut up, there is nothing he said that would possibly be propaganda to rule the world, so stop making stupid statements. If you would like to educate yourself there is a video I would like you to watch.

[goldenmsh]

@GoldenTagachi why the fuck should we believe your RULE THE WORLD propaganda ??

[maquoketastudiosjr]

Guy would not have to put them in front of the vehicle if rocks were not being thrown at him. He made a simple solution to his problem, if you want to be dicks and throw rocks at him then your punishment will be hitting your own people. He is not the one being violent they are, so I see this a peaceful way of solving the problem. Now if they threw some rocks at him and he pulled out his gun and blasted them away then yes you guys might have a reason to be mad, but that didnt happen,so shut up.