Use of Human Shields

Clear Violation of International Humanitarian Law – Prohibition on Human Shields

International humanitarian law—including the Fourth Geneva Convention, Additional Protocol I (Art. 28), and Rome Statute (Art. 8(2)(b)(xxiii))—explicitly bans using civilians or detainees to shield military operations. This prohibition is widely recognised as customary law, and Israel’s own Supreme Court outlawed such practices in 2005.

Systematic Practice Documented by Associated Press & NGOs

An Associated Press investigation (May 2025) found Israeli soldiers in Gaza and the West Bank “systematically” forcing Palestinian civilians—men, the elderly, even children—into dangerous buildings and tunnels to act as human shields.

  • One victim, Ayman Abu Hamadan, reported being blindfolded, beaten, and made to enter high-risk structures while followed by soldiers—under threat of death - source

  • Military whistleblowers described this as the so-called “mosquito protocol”, with commanders approving the practice and training soldiers accordingly - source

Testimonies from Palestinian Civilians & Israeli Soldiers

  • Washington Post reported four civilians who confirmed they were used as human shields from January to August 2024; one was shot while leading troops into a building - source

  • Al Jazeera’s “I‑Unit” field investigation captured footage and interviews—with detainees forced to inspect booby-trapped areas with cameras, under gunpoint - source

Use of Children & Vulnerable Persons

  • A 2023 UN Committee on the Rights of the Child report confirmed at least 14 cases of Palestinian children used as human shields, including forcing them to walk in front of military vehicles or enter hazardous buildings; soldiers convicted received merely suspended sentences - source

  • In June 2023, the UN verified that four Palestinian children (three boys, one girl) had been used—part of an ongoing pattern dating back years - source

Scale & Military Tolerance

  • Reports by Ha’aretz and Breaking the Silence (2024) indicate that the practice became routine, sometimes occurring multiple times daily, across different infantry units—often commanded from senior levels - source

  • Soldiers themselves expressed moral objection but described these actions as sanctioned by commanders - source

Legal Implications — War Crimes

Under Article 8(2)(b)(xxiii) of the Rome Statute, using civilians as shields is clearly designated a war crime.

These documented and consistent accounts—by victims, media investigations, military whistleblowers, and UN bodies—demonstrate:

  • Systematic policy, not isolated incidents.

  • High-level knowledge or authorisation, undermining claims of rogue behavior.

  • Direct civilian harm and death, including at least two fatalities linked to shield use.

A poster calls for the arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu for war crimes in Gaza in Washington D.C., United States (October 2024)

Image credit: Shutterstock/Phil Pasquini