The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) continue to commit grave violations of international law in their genocidal war against the Palestinian people. Among the most egregious tactics is the deliberate use of Palestinian civilians as human shields—a war crime that highlights the IOF’s deeply rooted colonial and racist policies. As the world watches in horror, testimonies from within the Israeli military itself confirm what Palestinians have long endured: a systematic disregard for human life, justified by dehumanisation at the highest levels of the Israeli regime.
Legal expert Anees Qassem has stated that using human shields is a crime under international law, a principle firmly rooted in customary law. He emphasised that the IOF’s use of such tactics in Gaza and the West Bank reflects a colonial and racist mindset, evident in both leadership and military practices.
Qassem highlighted documented evidence of the IOF’s brutality, including the Defence Minister’s dehumanising description of Palestinians as “human animals.” These actions, he argued, demonstrate systematic human rights violations and place significant legal responsibility on Israel before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The revelations come as an IOF officer anonymously disclosed that Palestinians are used as human shields at least six times daily in Gaza. The officer criticised the military’s token investigations, calling them a facade to appease international scrutiny, and condemned practices like the “mosquito” procedure, where civilians are forced to clear buildings and tunnels.
The ICC has already issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Meanwhile, the International Court of Justice is reviewing South Africa’s genocide case against Israel, underscoring the growing global condemnation of its actions in Gaza.
Source : Safa News
