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Israeli army 'used human shields' | Israeli army 'used human shields' |
(about 17 hours later) | |
An Israeli human rights group has accused Israel's army of using two young Palestinians as human shields during a recent raid in the West Bank. | An Israeli human rights group has accused Israel's army of using two young Palestinians as human shields during a recent raid in the West Bank. |
The B'Tselem group said it had testimony from a 15-year-old boy, his 24-year-old cousin and also an 11-year-old girl. | |
They said that soldiers had forced them to enter houses ahead of the troops during the raid in Nablus. | |
The use of human shields is illegal under Israeli and international law. | The use of human shields is illegal under Israeli and international law. |
The Israeli defence force says it is investigating the allegations. | The Israeli defence force says it is investigating the allegations. |
'Knowingly exposed' | 'Knowingly exposed' |
The Israeli army occupied the Kasbah, or old town, in Nablus for five days at the end of last month. It said it was hunting for militants and their weapons. | The Israeli army occupied the Kasbah, or old town, in Nablus for five days at the end of last month. It said it was hunting for militants and their weapons. |
Soldiers conducted house-to-house searches. They imposed a two-day curfew on tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians. | Soldiers conducted house-to-house searches. They imposed a two-day curfew on tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians. |
Amid Omeira, aged 15, told B'Tselem that a group of soldiers used the barrels of their rifles to force him to enter a number of houses ahead of them. | Amid Omeira, aged 15, told B'Tselem that a group of soldiers used the barrels of their rifles to force him to enter a number of houses ahead of them. |
His 24-year-old cousin Samah told the group and the BBC of a similar experience, as did Jihan Dadush, aged 11. | His 24-year-old cousin Samah told the group and the BBC of a similar experience, as did Jihan Dadush, aged 11. |
From their testimonies, B'Tselem says it believes the Israeli soldiers knowingly exposed Samah and the two children to danger as they expected to find armed men in the houses. | From their testimonies, B'Tselem says it believes the Israeli soldiers knowingly exposed Samah and the two children to danger as they expected to find armed men in the houses. |
B'Tselem has accused Israel's military authorities of not adequately informing soldiers about both Israeli and international laws which prohibit using civilians as human shields. | B'Tselem has accused Israel's military authorities of not adequately informing soldiers about both Israeli and international laws which prohibit using civilians as human shields. |
B'Tselem says the delay in investigating similar alleged incidents in the past suggests a leniency in the army's attitude towards soldiers who use civilians in this way. | B'Tselem says the delay in investigating similar alleged incidents in the past suggests a leniency in the army's attitude towards soldiers who use civilians in this way. |
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