Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Rubio: 'Very short window', maybe days, for Hamas to accept deal
Al Mayadeen correspondent to southern Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launched a raid on the Ksar Zaatar neighborhood in western Nabatieh.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The tower destroyed by the Israeli occupation in Gaza includes media offices, including Al Mayadeen's bureau.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Four fetuses and three premature babies died at Nasser Medical Complex due to malnutrition
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City

Israeli occupation using Palestinians as human shields in Gaza: NYT

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The New York Times
  • 14 Oct 2024 12:25
  • 3 Shares
3 Min Read

Israeli soldiers and former Palestinian detainees report that troops frequently use abducted Gaza residents as human shields, forcing them to take on dangerous tasks.

Listen
  • x
  •  Israeli soldiers gather in the southern Gaza Strip, on Wednesday, July 3,2024. (AP)
    Israeli soldiers gather in the southern Gaza Strip, on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (AP)

Israeli soldiers and intelligence agents have been coercing detained Palestinians in Gaza to carry out life-threatening reconnaissance missions to avoid risking the lives of Israeli soldiers on the battlefield, a New York Times investigation revealed.

After Israeli soldiers discovered Mohammed Shubeir hiding with his family in early March, they abducted him for about 10 days before releasing him without any charges.

During this time, Shubeir recalled that the soldiers used him as a human shield. At just 17 years old, he recounted being forced to walk handcuffed through the desolate ruins of his hometown, Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, as he searched for explosives. To keep themselves safe from potential explosions, the soldiers made him go ahead.

'The last moments of my life'

In one destroyed building, he halted in shock upon noticing a series of wires running along the wall, which were connected to explosives. “The soldiers sent me like a dog to a booby-trapped apartment,” Shubeir, a high school student, stated. “I thought these would be the last moments of my life.”

According to the NYT, this brutal practice has been employed by 11 squads across five cities in Gaza, involving individuals from Israeli intelligence agencies. 

Related News

75% of Palestinian detainees from Gaza civilians, held without charge

Released Gaza detainees report abuse, starvation in Israeli prisons

Palestinian abductees in Gaza have reportedly been forced to scout areas in Gaza where the Israeli military suspects Resistance fighters may have laid traps or prepared ambushes.

Seven Israeli soldiers interviewed by The Times confirmed witnessing or participating in this routine practice, which they described as organized and supported by military logistics.

Eight other soldiers and officials spoke anonymously about the tactic. Three Palestinians gave on-record accounts of being used as human shields, according to the NYT.

In one incident, an Israeli squad forced a group of displaced Palestinians to walk ahead of them as they advanced toward a militant hideout in central Gaza City, as described by Jehad Siam, a 31-year-old Palestinian graphic designer who was part of the group.

NYT also cited two Israeli soldiers who said some lower-ranking officers tried to justify the practice by falsely claiming the detainees were "terrorists" rather than civilians held without charges.

The neighbor procedure 

Soldiers reported being told that the lives of "terrorists" were less valuable than those of Israelis. However, according to the NYT, officers often determined that the detainees were not affiliated with any groups and released them without charges. 

In early February, the IOF claimed to have discovered a Hamas tunnel network extending underneath the UNRWA headquarters in Gaza City. According to the NYT, officers on-site decided to send a Palestinian equipped with a body camera to explore the tunnels to avoid risking the lives of Israeli engineers. 

The NYT also recalled a similar tactic used by the Israeli military in Gaza and the West Bank during the early 2000s, known as the "neighbor procedure". Soldiers would force Palestinian civilians to approach militants' homes in an effort to persuade them to surrender.

Read next: Probe confirms Israeli military using Palestinians as human shields

  • Gaza detainees
  • human shield
  • Israeli aggression
  • Gaza genocide
  • Israeli occupation
  • Gaza
War on Gaza

War on Gaza

Most Read

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
President Nicolas Maduro gestures to supporters during the inauguration of a monument in China's honor on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, September 3, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Maduro warns of threats, urges 'battle for truth' to defend Venezuela

Damage is seen after an Israeli strike targeted a compound that hosted Hamas' political leadership in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)
Politics

Netanyahu informed Trump before deadly attack in Doha: Reports

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hold a joint press conference at the Prime Minister's Office, during Rubio's visit, in occupied al-Quds, occupied Palestine, Monday, September 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu warns of Israeli isolation, calls to boost self-reliance

Spain axes €700Mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide
Politics

Spain axes €700Mln arms deals with 'Israel' over Gaza genocide

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS