Several Palestinians have come forward with accounts accusing the Israeli military of systematically using civilians as human shields in Gaza, a practice prohibited under international law. These testimonies, along with statements from Israeli soldiers, paint a picture of a disturbing trend during the 19-month war.
Forced into Combat Zones
Ayman Abu Hamadan, a 36-year-old Palestinian, recalled how Israeli troops forced him into dangerous situations. “They beat me and told me: ‘You have no other option; do this or we’ll kill you,’” he told The Associated Press.
He said he spent over two weeks clearing homes and tunnels for explosives and fighters, always under threat and pressure. Dressed in military fatigues and wearing a helmet-mounted camera, he was sent into structures while soldiers waited behind him. “When one unit finished with him, he was passed to the next,” the report noted. Abu Hamadan said he was bound and blindfolded every night and forced to repeat the cycle the next day.
Soldiers Report Practice Was Common
Israeli soldiers, speaking anonymously to the AP, confirmed the use of human shields had become normalized during the conflict. One officer said nearly every platoon engaged in this tactic. “Once this idea was initiated, it caught on like fire in a field,” said a 26-year-old Israeli officer, adding that by the end of his deployment, every infantry unit used Palestinians to enter buildings before the troops did.
One soldier claimed the tactic helped avoid injuries to dogs and save ammunition. “Orders to ‘bring a mosquito’ often came via radio,” referring to Palestinians with dehumanizing slang such as “mosquitoes” or “wasps.”
Military Denial and Ongoing Investigations
The Israeli military denied officially sanctioning the practice. In a statement to the AP, it said: “It strictly prohibits using civilians as shields,” and that “all such orders are routinely emphasized to the forces.”
The military confirmed it is investigating several incidents involving civilians but did not provide further details or comment on whether commanders had issued such orders.
Deaths and Moral Fallout
An Israeli officer said he filed two reports detailing incidents, including the accidental killing of a Palestinian who was mistaken for a threat while being used by another unit as a shield.
“These are not isolated accounts; they point to a systemic failure and a horrifying moral collapse,” said Nadav Weiman, executive director of Breaking the Silence, a whistleblower group of former Israeli soldiers. “Israel rightly condemns Hamas for using civilians as human shields, but our own soldiers describe doing the very same.”
More Testimonies from Civilians
Masoud Abu Saeed, 36, said he was forced to work as a shield for two weeks in Khan Younis in March 2024. “This is extremely dangerous,” he recalled telling a soldier. “I have children and want to reunite with them.”
He said he had to enter hospitals, houses, and buildings, wearing a first-responder vest and carrying tools to search for tunnels. In one instance, he encountered his brother—also being used as a shield by another unit. “I thought Israel’s army had executed him,” he said.
Sixteen-year-olds and adults were reportedly forced into similar roles. One Israeli sergeant said, “The boy shook constantly, and both repeated ‘Rafah, Rafah,’” referring to the southern Gaza city where many had sought refuge. “It seemed they were begging to be freed,” he said.
West Bank Also Affected
The reports extend beyond Gaza. In the West Bank, Hazar Estity said Israeli soldiers took her from her home in Jenin and forced her to film inside apartments before troops entered. “I was most afraid that they would kill me,” she said. “And that I wouldn’t see my son again.”
Longstanding Accusations
Rights groups have documented the use of human shields by Israeli forces for decades. Although the Israeli Supreme Court outlawed the practice in 2005, groups say violations have continued and expanded, especially in this current war.
Experts argue that while Hamas also uses civilians for protection, it does not absolve Israel from abiding by international law. “It’s really a heavy lift to look at your own soldiers and say you have to comply,” said Michael Schmitt, professor of international law at West Point.
As investigations continue, these disturbing accounts shed light on the escalating brutality of a war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives — with civilians often caught in the crossfire, or worse, forced to be on the front line.
