B’Tselem Investigation: IDF Used Palestinian Civilians in Beit Jala as “Human Shields”

B’Tselem Investigation: IDF Used Palestinian Civilians in Beit Jala as “Human Shields”

B’Tselem to the OC Central Commander: This constitutes a violation of the most fundamental rules of international law.

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B’Tselem completed its investigation of the IDF incursions into Beit Jala and the subsequent takeover of residents’ houses on August 14, 2001 and August 27, 2001. The investigation reveals that soldiers imprisoned residents in their homes, and from these houses conducted gun battles with Palestinians, thus endangering the residents. The investigation also reveals that in some cases, soldiers instructed families to remain in a room where they were exposed to Palestinian gun-fire aimed at the soldiers in the house. Even when the residents explicitly requested to leave the house, the soldiers prevented them. In at least one instance, IDF soldiers forced one man to stand as a barrier between them and the Palestinian fire. The IDF soldiers also disconnected the phone and electricity lines to the houses and forced families to remain without food, water, or access to the bathroom for many hours.

From a letter sent today by B’Tselem to the OC Central Commander: “The actions of the soldiers in Beit Jala…..raise difficult questions regarding the IDF’s policy towards the civilian population in the Occupied Territories. Soldiers’ cynical use of civilians, including endangering their lives and property, constitutes a violation of the most fundamental rules of international law and a grave violation of their rights.”