Guthrie
Mayor
Israel[edit]
Prior to 2008-2009Gaza War[edit]
The IDF admitted it had used Palestinians as 'human shields', in limited capacities, a practice subsequently banned by Israel's High Court of Justice.[21]TheIsraeli Defense Ministryappealed this decision.[22]Specifically, while acknowledging and defending the "use of Palestinians to deliver warnings to wanted men about impending arrest operations", the IDF denied reports of "using Palestinians as human shields against attacks on IDF forces", claiming it had already forbidden this practice.[21]
Amnesty International[23]andHuman Rights Watch[24]said the Israel Defense Forces usedPalestiniancivilians as human shields during the 2002Battle of Jenin. The Israelihuman rightsgroupB'Tselemsaid that "for a long period of time following the outbreak of the second intifada, particularly duringOperation Defensive Shield, in April 2002, the IDF systematically used Palestinian civilians as human shields, forcing them to carry out military actions which threatened their lives".[25][26]Al Mezanreported the systematic use of "human shields" during theinvasion of Beit Hanounin 2004.[27]
The practice was outlawed by theSupreme Court of Israelin 2005 but human rights groups say the IDF continues to use it, although they say the number of instances has dropped sharply.[25][28]In 2006, the IDF again used civilians as human shields in Beit Hanun.[29]In February 2007,Associated Press Television Newsreleased footage of an incident involving Sameh Amira, a 24-year-old Palestinian. The video appears to show theWest Bankresident serving as a human shield for a group of Israeli soldiers.[28][30]The Israeli Army launched a criminal investigation into the incident.[28]In April 2007, the Israeli army suspended a commander after the unit he was leading was accused of using Palestinians as human shields in aWest Bankraid.[31]
During the 2008-2009 Gaza War[edit]
During the2008-2009 Gaza Warknown asOperation Cast Lead, Israeli military forces were accused of continuing to use civilians as human shields byAmnesty Internationaland former Israeli soldiers (seeBreaking the Silence).[citation needed]According to testimonies, Israeli forces used unarmed Palestinians including children to protect military positions, walk in front of armed soldiers; go into buildings to check for booby traps or gunmen; and inspect suspicious objects for explosives.[32][33]Amnesty Internationalclaimed that the Israeli military used human shields during theGaza Warof 2008-2009, stating that it found cases in which "Israeli troops forced Palestinians to stay in one room of their home while turning the rest of the house into a base and sniper position, effectively using the families, both adults and children, as human shields and putting them at risk.[34]The Israeli military responded only by calling the report "unbalanced" and saying that it ignored "blatant violations of international law perpetrated by Hamas".[citation needed]TheUN Human Rights Councilalso accused Israel of using human shields during 2008-2009 Gaza Conflict.[35][36]
The Guardiancompiled three videos and testimony from civilians about alleged war crimes committed by Israeli soldiers during the 2008-2009 Gaza War, including the use of Palestinian children as human shields.[37][38]In the videos three teenage brothers from the al-Attar family claimed that they were forced at gunpoint to kneel in front of tanks to deter Hamas fighters from firing at them and that they were used to "clear" houses for the Isreali soldiers.[38]
An Israeli military official responded to these allegations: "The IDF operated in accordance with the rules of war and did the utmost to minimise harm to civilians uninvolved in combat. The IDF's use of weapons conforms to international law." An Israeli embassy spokesperson considers these allegations suspect because of Hamas pressure, adding: "Anyone who understands the realities of Gaza will know that these people are not free to speak the truth. Those that wish to speak out cannot for fear of beatings,tortureorexecutionat the hands of Hamas."[38]
On March 12, 2010, the Israel Defense Forces prosecution filed indictments against two staff sergeants of the Givati Brigade for allegedly forcing a 9-year-old Palestinian boy to open a number of bags they thought might contain explosives in January 2009. The IDF said it opened the investigation after the incident was brought to its attention by theUnited Nations.[39]On October 3, 2010, a conviction in this matter was handed down by the military court against both defendants, though neither soldier was jailed.[40][41][42]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_shield
Prior to 2008-2009Gaza War[edit]
The IDF admitted it had used Palestinians as 'human shields', in limited capacities, a practice subsequently banned by Israel's High Court of Justice.[21]TheIsraeli Defense Ministryappealed this decision.[22]Specifically, while acknowledging and defending the "use of Palestinians to deliver warnings to wanted men about impending arrest operations", the IDF denied reports of "using Palestinians as human shields against attacks on IDF forces", claiming it had already forbidden this practice.[21]
Amnesty International[23]andHuman Rights Watch[24]said the Israel Defense Forces usedPalestiniancivilians as human shields during the 2002Battle of Jenin. The Israelihuman rightsgroupB'Tselemsaid that "for a long period of time following the outbreak of the second intifada, particularly duringOperation Defensive Shield, in April 2002, the IDF systematically used Palestinian civilians as human shields, forcing them to carry out military actions which threatened their lives".[25][26]Al Mezanreported the systematic use of "human shields" during theinvasion of Beit Hanounin 2004.[27]
The practice was outlawed by theSupreme Court of Israelin 2005 but human rights groups say the IDF continues to use it, although they say the number of instances has dropped sharply.[25][28]In 2006, the IDF again used civilians as human shields in Beit Hanun.[29]In February 2007,Associated Press Television Newsreleased footage of an incident involving Sameh Amira, a 24-year-old Palestinian. The video appears to show theWest Bankresident serving as a human shield for a group of Israeli soldiers.[28][30]The Israeli Army launched a criminal investigation into the incident.[28]In April 2007, the Israeli army suspended a commander after the unit he was leading was accused of using Palestinians as human shields in aWest Bankraid.[31]
During the 2008-2009 Gaza War[edit]
During the2008-2009 Gaza Warknown asOperation Cast Lead, Israeli military forces were accused of continuing to use civilians as human shields byAmnesty Internationaland former Israeli soldiers (seeBreaking the Silence).[citation needed]According to testimonies, Israeli forces used unarmed Palestinians including children to protect military positions, walk in front of armed soldiers; go into buildings to check for booby traps or gunmen; and inspect suspicious objects for explosives.[32][33]Amnesty Internationalclaimed that the Israeli military used human shields during theGaza Warof 2008-2009, stating that it found cases in which "Israeli troops forced Palestinians to stay in one room of their home while turning the rest of the house into a base and sniper position, effectively using the families, both adults and children, as human shields and putting them at risk.[34]The Israeli military responded only by calling the report "unbalanced" and saying that it ignored "blatant violations of international law perpetrated by Hamas".[citation needed]TheUN Human Rights Councilalso accused Israel of using human shields during 2008-2009 Gaza Conflict.[35][36]
The Guardiancompiled three videos and testimony from civilians about alleged war crimes committed by Israeli soldiers during the 2008-2009 Gaza War, including the use of Palestinian children as human shields.[37][38]In the videos three teenage brothers from the al-Attar family claimed that they were forced at gunpoint to kneel in front of tanks to deter Hamas fighters from firing at them and that they were used to "clear" houses for the Isreali soldiers.[38]
An Israeli military official responded to these allegations: "The IDF operated in accordance with the rules of war and did the utmost to minimise harm to civilians uninvolved in combat. The IDF's use of weapons conforms to international law." An Israeli embassy spokesperson considers these allegations suspect because of Hamas pressure, adding: "Anyone who understands the realities of Gaza will know that these people are not free to speak the truth. Those that wish to speak out cannot for fear of beatings,tortureorexecutionat the hands of Hamas."[38]
On March 12, 2010, the Israel Defense Forces prosecution filed indictments against two staff sergeants of the Givati Brigade for allegedly forcing a 9-year-old Palestinian boy to open a number of bags they thought might contain explosives in January 2009. The IDF said it opened the investigation after the incident was brought to its attention by theUnited Nations.[39]On October 3, 2010, a conviction in this matter was handed down by the military court against both defendants, though neither soldier was jailed.[40][41][42]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_shield
