Israeli troops are accused of systematically using Palestinian civilians as human shields in Gaza, defying their own Supreme Court and igniting global outrage over war crimes.
At a Glance
- Israeli military accused of using Palestinians as human shields despite a 2005 Israeli Supreme Court ban
- Civilians detained and forced to enter dangerous zones ahead of soldiers during raids and patrols
- Soldiers call the tactic the “mosquito procedure,” indicating normalization within ranks
- Investigations into such practices are rare and often inconclusive, human rights groups report
- Eyewitness accounts and visual evidence confirmed by media and NGOs
“Mosquito Procedure”: War Crime in Practice
In the rubble of Gaza, a shocking military tactic has emerged—one that international law defines as a war crime. According to reports from Al Jazeera and the Associated Press, Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) personnel are using Palestinian civilians as human shields in violation of both domestic and international prohibitions.
The practice, dubbed the “mosquito procedure” by IDF troops, involves detaining civilians and forcing them to walk ahead of soldiers into potentially dangerous areas—such as booby-trapped buildings or suspected tunnels. One civilian, Ayman Abu Hamadan, told reporters: “They beat me and said: ‘Do this or we’ll kill you.’” Soldiers involved describe it as “effective,” with one noting, “It caught on like fire in a field.”
A Systemic Failure of Accountability
Despite a 2005 Israeli Supreme Court ruling explicitly banning such tactics, the IDF’s internal investigations have historically produced few consequences. “Israeli army investigations have proven throughout the decades to be non-investigations,” said researcher Nicola Perugini, who has documented these incidents for years.
Watch a report: Human shield allegations mount in Gaza.
Perugini adds, “What we have now in the live-streamed genocide is the most documented archive of human shielding in the history of the different wars between Israel and the Palestinians.” Yet, Israeli officials often respond with blanket denials or vague promises to “look into” the matter—an approach many watchdogs view as institutional stonewalling.
Western Silence and Political Complicity
The use of human shields has long been criticized when employed by non-state actors like Hamas, but the silence from Western governments on IDF violations is deafening. While U.S. leaders continue to support Israel militarily and diplomatically, there has been little acknowledgment of the growing evidence against these practices.
Protests have erupted in several countries demanding a halt to U.S. aid, especially as documented testimonies reveal a pattern of abuse. “It’s become part of [Israel’s] military culture,” Perugini said. Yet no sanctions have been imposed, and no international legal action has followed.
If the international community continues to look away, it risks validating what could be one of the most disturbing normalization of war crimes in modern history. For now, Gaza’s civilians remain caught in the crossfire—quite literally.
