Editing Human shield (section)

==== Israeli–Palestinian conflict ====
{{Main|Human shields in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict}}
Human shields have been used by the [[Israeli Defense Forces]](IDF) during the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict]],<ref name="Finkelstein" /> with instances being widely documented in the [[Second Intifada]], and notably recurring in the [[2008–2009 Gaza War]], the [[2014 Gaza War]] and the [[Gaza war]].

The use of human shields by the IDF was banned in October 2005, when the Israeli Supreme Court said the practice violated international law.<ref>{{cite web |title=Israel bans use of human shields |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4314898.stm |website=BBC |access-date=29 May 2025 |date=6 October 2005}}</ref><ref name="B'tselem2017" /> The independent human rights NGOs [[B'tselem]] and [[Amnesty International]] have stated that ample evidence exists in conflicts after that date that Israel has employed Palestinians as human shields. According to B'tselem, the practice goes back to 1967.<ref name="Finkelstein" >[[Norman Finkelstein]], ''[[Gaza: An Inquest into Its Martyrdom]],''  [[University of California Press]], 2018   {{isbn|978-0-520-96838-7}} pp.68–82.</ref><ref name="B'tselem2017" >[https://www.btselem.org/topic/human_shields 'Human Shields,'] [[B'tselem]] 11 November 2017</ref> In 2010, two Israeli soldiers were convicted of using for using a Palestinian boy during the [[2008–2009 Gaza War]].<ref>Harriet Sherwood, [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/oct/03/israel-soldiers-human-shield-palestinian "Israeli Soldiers Convicted of Using Palestinian Boy as Human Shield,"] [[The Guardian]] 3 October 2010.</ref>

The charge has been leveled against Palestinian groups frequently by numerous observers.<ref name="Finkelstein" /> [[Neve Gordon]] and [[Nicola Perugini]] have noted how Israel has used the charge as part of its 'infowar' on social media,<ref name="Gordon Perugini" />{{rp|170–177}} to justify the high ratio of civilian vs military casualties in its attacks on civilian facilities and infrastructures in Gaza. In [[Operation Cast Lead]] 100 Gazans died for every Israeli, and the civilian ratio was 400 Gazans to 1 Israeli. Israeli spokesmen explained the difference by alleging that Hamas used civilians as shields. It has been argued that no evidence has come to light proving these claims.<ref>Amnesty International wrote as of 2014 that it does not have evidence at this point that Palestinian civilians have been intentionally used by Hamas or Palestinian armed groups during the current hostilities to 'shield' specific locations or military personnel or equipment from Israeli attacks" and further saying that "Under international humanitarian law even if "human shields" are being used Israel's obligations to protect these civilians would still apply."{{cite web |title=Israel/Gaza conflict: Questions and Answers | website=Amnesty International |date=2014-07-25 |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2014/07/israelgaza-conflict-questions-and-answers/ | ref={{sfnref | Amnesty International | 2014}} |access-date=2021-11-28}}</ref><ref>Nida'a Yousef, [https://law4palestine.org/under-scrutiny-allegations-of-use-of-human-shields-by-palestinian-armed-groups-and-the-international-criminal-court-investigation/ Under Scrutiny: Allegations of Use of Human Shields by Palestinian Armed Groups and the International Criminal Court Investigation] [[Birzeit University|Law for Palestine]]  2 August 2021</ref><ref>[[Diana Buttu]], [https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/jps.2014.44.1.91 'Blaming the Victims,']  [[Journal of Palestine Studies]]  Vol. 44, No. 1, (Autumn 2014), pp. 91–96.</ref><ref>Stephen Zunes, [https://progressive.org/api/content/41cb0eba-cf72-11eb-8176-1244d5f7c7c6/  Have 'Human Shields' Accusations Become an Excuse for War Crimes?]  [[The Progressive]] June 17, 2021. "Despite repeated claims by both Israel and the United States, there is absolutely no evidence that any of the more than 3,000 Palestinian civilians killed in Israeli military operations against Gaza since 2008 were a result of Hamas using human shields."</ref> Amnesty International investigated the incidents which resulted in the largest number of civilian casualties, finding that these casualties were not the result of human shielding.<ref>{{cite web |title=Israel/Gaza: Operation "Cast Lead": 22 days of death and destruction |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde15/015/2009/en/ |website=Amnesty International |date=July 2, 2009 |language=en|quote=The attacks that caused the greatest number of fatalities and injuries were carried out with long-range high-precision munitions fired from combat aircraft, helicopters and drones, or from tanks stationed up to several kilometres away – often against pre selected targets, a process that would normally require approval from up the chain of command. The victims of these attacks were not caught in the crossfire of battles between Palestinian militants and Israeli forces, nor were they shielding militants or other legitimate targets. Many were killed when their homes were bombed while they slept. Others were going about their daily activities in their homes, sitting in their yard, hanging the laundry on the roof when they were targeted in air strikes or tank shelling. Children were studying or playing in their bedrooms or on the roof, or outside their homes, when they were struck by missiles or tank shells. Others were in the street, walking or cycling. Paramedics and ambulances were repeatedly attacked while rescuing the wounded or recovering the dead}}</ref> During the [[Gaza war]], the [[European Union]] and US President [[Joe Biden]] condemned the use of human shields by organizations such as [[Hamas]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kittrie |first=Orde |date=2023-10-18 |title=US law requires Biden to impose sanctions on Hamas for using human shields |url=https://thehill.com/opinion/international/4260279-us-law-requires-biden-to-impose-sanctions-on-hamas-for-using-human-shields/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Times |first=The Brussels |title=EU leaders call for humanitarian paus in war, condemns the use of civilians as human shields |url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/770657/eu-leaders-call-for-humanitarian-paus-in-war-condemns-the-use-of-civilians-as-human-shields |access-date=2023-10-27 |website=www.brusselstimes.com |language=en}}</ref> Janina Dill, a laws of war professor at [[University of Oxford]], stated, "Even if Hamas uses civilians as human shields, those civilians are entitled to full protection under international law unless they directly participate in the fighting".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yee |first1=Vivian |date=17 December 2023 |title=More Than 100 Members of This Gaza Clan Have Been Killed in War |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/17/world/middleeast/gaza-al-astal-loss.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231219005736/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/17/world/middleeast/gaza-al-astal-loss.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare |archive-date=19 December 2023 |access-date=19 December 2023 |work=The New York Times}}</ref>

Amnesty International investigated claims made by Israel in the 2008–2009 Gaza War and the 2014 Gaza War that Hamas employed human shields, and said that "storing munitions in civilian buildings or launching attacks from the vicinity of civilian buildings" and public statements directing civilians to stay at home do not amount to using human shields.<ref>{{cite web |title=UNLAWFUL AND DEADLY |url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/MDE2111782015ENGLISH.pdf |website=Amnesty International |access-date=2 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Burgis |first1=Ben |title=The "Human Shields" Defense of Bombing Gaza's Civilians Is Morally Bankrupt |url=https://jacobin.com/2023/11/human-shields-bombing-gaza-palestine-israel-defense-forces-morally-bankrupt |work=[[Jacobin (magazine)|Jacobin]] |date=20 November 2023}}</ref>