Afternoon:
10°c
We used Gaza civilians as shields, say Israelis
Matti Friedman15 Jul 2009
The Israeli army used reckless force in Gaza, resulting in needless deaths and damage, former soldiers said in a report today.
Breaking the Silence, an organisation of Israeli army reservists, interviewed 26 soldiers involved in the three weeks of fighting in Gaza. They said they demolished homes and used unnecessary firepower given the relatively light resistance.
One soldier said his unit used Palestinian civilians as human shields — a practice outlawed by Israel's supreme court — and forced them to enter buildings suspected of housing militants.
“Sometimes the force would enter while placing rifle barrels on a civilian's shoulder, advancing into a house and using him as a human shield. Commanders said these were the instructions and we had to do it,” he said.
Another said: “My impression about rules of engagement was that, at least at our level, they were not clear. There were no clear red lines.”
None of the soldiers was identified and did not give dates or locations for the events. The report also did not look at the actions of Palestinian militants.
Israel accused the group of “defaming and slandering” the army. Defence minister Ehud Barak said: “The Israel Defence Force is one of the world's most moral armies.”
Ismail Haniyeh, leader of Gaza's Hamas government, said: “This report reflects the crimes committed in Gaza.”
Reader views (3)
Rogan thank you for the laugh.
So I'm bias hihihihi
- Carla, London, 17/07/2009 14:51
Report abuse
The whole world knows of Israel war crimes, unfortunately they turn a blind eye.
These double standards must stop
BOYCOTT ISRAEL.
- Carla, London, 17/07/2009 13:51
Report abuse
"None of the soldiers was identified and did not give dates or locations for the events."
Sounds a little like trial by accusation to me. Could these 'soldiers' stand a credibility test? Do they have an axe to grind? Even if true - who were these 'civilians'? Anyone that isn't in a serving military organization is a 'civilian' - which includes most of the people that the Israelis were fighting against. I can easily envisage a captive fighter who tells the Israelis that a building is safe to enter being made to enter that building to prove it so.
Was there any mention in the report of these 'civilians' being killed when they were 'being used as human shields'?
There is so little information here that I could go on for ever like this, questioning - yet Carla in London wants Israel boycotted. Sounds like her bias, no less than possible isolated Israeli wrong-doing that needs to be questioned.
- Rogan, Irving, 17/07/2009 13:51
Report abuse
