Israeli forces ‘systematically using Palestinians as human shields in Gaza’

Israeli forces are systematically forcing Palestinians to act as human shields in Gaza, according to a new report by the Associated Press (AP). 

Seven Palestinians spoke to AP about being used as human shields in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank, in a report published on Saturday. Two Israeli military officers also confirmed the practice. 

“They beat me and told me: ‘You have no other option; do this or we’ll kill you,’” Ayman Abu Hamadan, 36, told AP. 

Abu Hamdan said he was held by Israeli forces in northern Gaza for two and a half weeks last summer. He said he was forced for 17 days to inspect homes and holes in tunnels as Israeli troops stood behind him.

An Israeli officer said there were times when close to every single platoon had used a Palestinian to clear locations before Israeli forces went in. 

One Israeli sergeant said that his unit attempted to push back on using Palestinian human shields in mid-2024, but were told that they had no choice in the matter. 

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