Palestinian detainees and former Israeli soldiers have told the Associated Press that the use of human shields by Israeli forces in Gaza has become a widespread and systematic practice during the ongoing war.

The accusations, which include accounts of forced civilian involvement in military operations, raise serious questions about violations of international law and the conduct of the Israeli military.

Harrowing testimonies

Used to enter potentially dangerous sites

Ayman Abu Hamadan, 36, recounted being detained for over two weeks last summer by the Israeli military. According to his testimony, the only times he was unbound and not blindfolded were when he was used to enter potentially dangerous sites.

“They beat me and told me: ‘You have no other option; do this or we’ll kill you,’” he told the AP. Wearing Israeli military fatigues and a camera, he was ordered to enter buildings across northern Gaza. Once one unit finished with him, he was handed over to another.

Masoud Abu Saeed, also 36, described being forced to dig for tunnels and walk into buildings in Khan Younis over two weeks in March 2024. “This is extremely dangerous,” he recalled telling a soldier. “I have children and want to reunite with them.” During one operation, he encountered his own brother also being used as a shield.

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Former IOF soldiers confirm orders came from commanders

A former Israeli officer, speaking anonymously, said the practice was widespread and often directed from higher ranks. “Orders often came from the top,” the officer said, stating that by the end of his nine-month deployment, “every infantry unit used a Palestinian to clear houses before entering.”

Two soldiers also confirmed their direct involvement, noting that commanders not only knew of the practice but gave explicit instructions. One recalled a 2024 brigade meeting where a commander proposed using the euphemism “get a mosquito” for acquiring civilians to use in this way.

The practice was internally referred to using terms like “mosquito protocol” and “wasps", which soldiers say reflect the normalization and dehumanization inherent in the process. “Once this idea was initiated, it caught on like fire in a field,” said one soldier. “People saw how effective and easy it was.”

One Israeli sergeant claimed his unit tried to resist but was told they had “no choice". Eventually, they used a 16-year-old boy and a 30-year-old man as shields. “The boy shook constantly,” he said, noting both repeatedly said, “Rafah, Rafah,” pleading to return home.

Rights groups warn of systemic abuse, legal breaches

The Israeli military responded to the AP, alleging it prohibits the use of civilians in operations and is investigating some of the claims. However, Breaking the Silence, an organization of former Israeli soldiers documenting military misconduct, stated the testimonies indicate a broader failure.

“These are not isolated accounts; they point to a systemic failure and a horrifying moral collapse,” said Nadav Weiman, the group's executive director. 

International law, including the Geneva Conventions, prohibits the use of civilians in wars. Despite this, both Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank have reported such incidents.

In West Bank too... 'I wouldn't see my son again'

Hazar Estity said soldiers occupied her home in the Jenin refugee camp in November, forcing her to film inside several apartments and clear them before troops entered.

She said she pleaded to return to her 21-month-old son, but soldiers didn’t listen.

“I was most afraid that they would kill me,” she said. “And that I wouldn’t see my son again.”

The AP's findings, combined with multiple on-the-record and anonymous testimonies, point to what experts describe as a deeply troubling and systemic pattern of Gaza human rights violations committed under the guise of military necessity.