How Israel Uses Palestinian Detainees as Human Shields

2024/11/27

The Daily

Natan Odenheimer

Sabena Gh

Natan Odenheimer的调查揭示了以色列军队在加沙战争中广泛使用巴勒斯坦被拘留者充当人体盾牌的证据。这些被拘留者被强迫进入危险区域，例如哈马斯隧道和可能埋有炸弹的房屋，为以色列士兵探路。一些被拘留者被伪装成以色列士兵，或配备摄像头为以色列士兵提供实时画面。这种做法违反了国际法和以色列法律，是对巴勒斯坦平民生命和尊严的严重侵犯。调查还发现，这种做法在战争期间变得越来越普遍，甚至在以色列军队内部有了专门的名称。尽管以色列军方否认了这一指控，但调查结果表明，这种做法得到了高级指挥官的默许甚至批准。许多以色列士兵对这种做法感到不安和震惊，一些士兵甚至公开反对。 Sabena Gh与Natan Odenheimer讨论了这一事件的背景、法律依据、道德层面以及对未来以色列军事行动的影响。她指出，哈马斯和以色列军队都漠视巴勒斯坦平民的生命，但两者采取的方式不同：哈马斯是一个恐怖组织，而以色列是一个主权国家，违反了战争规则。她还强调了以色列社会在十月七日袭击事件后的创伤和道德判断的模糊，这可能导致了这种做法的出现。她认为，以色列社会需要直面战争中不公正的部分，包括对巴勒斯坦平民的巨大破坏和大量伤亡，以及以色列军队使用巴勒斯坦人充当人体盾牌的违法行为。 Sabena Gh就以色列使用巴勒斯坦人作为人体盾牌的事件，与Natan Odenheimer进行了深入探讨。她强调了这一行为的严重性，指出其违反了国际法和基本人权。她还分析了这一事件的背景，包括以色列与哈马斯之间的冲突，以及以色列社会对十月七日袭击事件的反应。她认为，以色列军队的行为反映出对巴勒斯坦人生命的漠视，这与哈马斯对平民的攻击构成了共同点，都体现了对巴勒斯坦人生命的普遍不尊重。她进一步指出，以色列作为主权国家，其军事行为应受到更高的道德和法律标准的约束，而这种做法的普遍性以及以色列军方内部对此的默许，都表明了其军事行为标准的严重恶化。

Deep Dive

Key Insights

Why did the Israeli military use Palestinian detainees as human shields during the war in Gaza?

The Israeli military used Palestinian detainees as human shields for several reasons: 1) Human beings are more efficient than drones or robots in certain reconnaissance missions. 2) After three months of war, dogs used for sniffing tunnels became less efficient due to trauma and confusion from explosive smells. 3) Palestinian detainees were used to prove tunnels and walk ahead of forces into potentially booby-trapped homes, reducing risk to Israeli soldiers.

What specific roles did Palestinian detainees play as human shields in Gaza?

Palestinian detainees were used to probe Hamas tunnels and enter homes suspected of being booby-trapped ahead of Israeli forces. Some detainees were dressed as IDF soldiers and equipped with body cameras to provide live feeds to Israeli soldiers.

How did the Israeli military justify the use of Palestinian detainees as human shields?

The Israeli military did not explicitly justify the practice but stated that their directives and guidelines strictly prohibit the use of Gaza civilians in operations. They acknowledged the accounts from detainees and soldiers and said they would be examined by relevant authorities.

What legal implications does the use of human shields have according to international and Israeli law?

Using civilians or militants as human shields in a battlefield is completely illegal under both international law and Israeli law. Israel has faced legal challenges over similar practices in the past, with the Israeli Supreme Court ruling against such use of Palestinian civilians in the West Bank.

What was the reaction of Israeli soldiers to the use of Palestinian detainees as human shields?

Many Israeli soldiers felt disturbed and horrified by the practice. Some even pushed back against it within their platoons, leading to the release of Palestinian civilians used as human shields.

How did the Israeli military's use of human shields during the Gaza war compare to previous conflicts?

The use of Palestinian detainees as human shields during the Gaza war was more widespread than in previous conflicts. It became a routine practice and was so common that it had a specific term within the military ('mosquito' for detainees used in tunnels).

What impact did the trauma from the October 7th attacks have on Israeli military practices during the Gaza war?

The trauma from the October 7th attacks clouded the moral judgment of many Israeli soldiers, leading to a dehumanizing view of Palestinians and a willingness to use them as human shields despite the illegality and ethical concerns.

Chapters

Natan Odenheimer stumbled upon the story and conducted an extensive investigation over ten months, uncovering widespread use of Palestinian detainees as human shields in Gaza.

Investigation took ten months and involved speaking to multiple sources.
Palestinian detainees were used to probe Hamas tunnels and enter potentially booby-trapped homes.
Some detainees were dressed as IDF soldiers and equipped with body cameras.

Shownotes Transcript

Overnight, Israel agreed to a cease-fire with the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah — a major turning point in one of the wars the country has been fighting since Hamas attacked it on Oct. 7. But the war in Gaza shows no sign of ending, and Israel’s conduct there is coming under increased scrutiny.

A New York Times investigation has examined one controversial tactic: the Israeli use of Palestinian detainees as human shields.

Natan Odenheimer, a contributing reporter for The Times, explains what the investigation revealed, and what the tactic says about the nature of the conflict.

Guest: Natan Odenheimer), a contributing reporter for The New York Times.

Background reading:

A Times investigation) found that Israeli soldiers and intelligence agents, throughout the war in Gaza, have regularly forced captured Palestinians to conduct life-threatening reconnaissance missions to avoid putting Israeli soldiers at risk on the battlefield.
As the cease-fire in Lebanon takes effect, follow live updates).

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts) or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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