Tel Aviv, August 14 (RHC)-- The Israeli army uses Palestinians as human shields during their operations to combat militias in the Gaza Strip, the Haaretz newspaper denounced on Wednesday.

According to a newspaper investigation, which included testimonies of soldiers and officers, the armed forces identify "to Palestinian civilians, who can be elderly or children, and use them in dangerous tasks such as entering houses and suspicious buildings or registering tunnels with the purpose of Protect their ambush or explosive artifact soldiers. ”

The newspaper stressed that this policy is known for the senior military, including brigade commanders and members of the General Staff.

The Palestinians are forced to use the Israeli army uniform and provide cameras to document their movements.  Haretz said that "these practices are not new, but rather an extension of similar procedures used by the army in the past."

Although the Supreme Court of Israel declared that method illegal, it is widespread during the current military operations in Gaza, according to the newspaper report.  The publication pointed out that at first glance it is difficult to distinguish the Palestinians used as human shields because "they are always surrounded by soldiers of different ranks and often wear Israeli uniforms."

But if we look at the details, it shows that they do not wear military boots but sports shoes, they have their hands on their backs and their faces reflect fear, the report adds.  "Our lives are more important than theirs," one soldier expressed to the newspaper.

Haretz warned that "this scenario is repeated again and again: the soldiers identify the citizens of Gaza for these tasks, and take them to the units and battalions that operate in the strip." (Source: Prensa Latina)