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Human shields

B'Tselem's demands for investigation after Operation Cast Lead

After the operation B'Tselem wrote to the MAG Corps demanding investigations of the Military Police Investigation Unit (MPIU) into 20 incidents that had taken place during the operation. In each of the incidents, B'Tselem's field research raised serious suspicions that military actions had harmed unarmed, uninvolved civilians, in violation of international humanitarian law. View list of cases and investigations status

February 1
Israel and the Palestinians must assist the UN mission

B'Tselem welcomes the appointment of the jurist Richard Goldstone to head the fact-finding mission, called for by the UN Human Rights Council, to investigate the recent fighting in Gaza. Particularly welcome is the delegation's mandate, which covers violations of international humanitarian law by both sides, in the Gaza Strip and in Israel.

April 6
Chief of Staff censures Brig.-Gen. Golan for use of human shields

The JAG ordered the investigation following reports, some by B'Tselem, and following the High Court's ruling prohibiting the use of human shields.

October 24
Testimony: A Palestinian injured in the course of being used as a human shield

According to Majd Ghanem's testimony, the soldiers ordered him to search his neighbor's house, and later forced him to sit in the road next to their jeep. When Palestinians opened fire at the jeep, the soldiers refused to let him in or allow him to escape the crossfire.

June 5
Israeli soldiers use two Palestinian minors as human shields

During the army's operation in late February, soldiers ordered two children, a fifteen-year-old boy and a eleven-year-old girl, to walk in front of them as they searched houses in the old city of Nablus.

March 8
Soldiers used Palestinians as human shields in Gaza

B'Tselem investigation indicates that Israeli soldiers used Palestinian civilians, including minors, as human shields during the military operation in Beit Hanun.

July 20
High Court bans "neighbor procedure," State Attorney's Office appeals

State Attorney's Office filed an application for a rehearing. Minister of Defense Shaul Mofaz stated that he wanted to appear before the court and explain the importance of the procedure.

November 21
Court forbids use of human shields

This morning, the Israeli High Court of Justice ruled that it is illegal to use Palestinian civilians in military operations. The decision was handed down in response to a petition filed in 2002 by a coalition of human rights organizations.

October 6