A Palestinian man was shot and killed by an Israeli commander in the southern Gaza city of Rafah while assisting Israel Defense Forces (IDF) troops, according to a report published by the Hebrew-language investigative news outlet The Hottest Place in Hell.
The incident occurred when the Palestinian, who had been forced to act as a human shield and search buildings in Gaza’s Khan Yunis area, was mistakenly shot by a commander from the IDF’s Nahal Brigade.
The report states that the Palestinian man had received permission from the IDF to be inside the building, yet when the brigade commander arrived at the scene, he identified the man as a Palestinian and opened fire, unaware that the man had been authorized by the IDF to be present.
The IDF later confirmed the incident, acknowledging that an investigation had been conducted by the brigade commander, with the findings implemented during current operations.
According to the Hottest Place in Hell, the Palestinian man had been forced to assist the IDF by conducting searches in buildings ahead of Israeli troops.
This practice is reportedly part of a broader strategy used by the IDF in Gaza, wherein Palestinians are coerced into acting as human shields to protect Israeli soldiers from potential explosive devices or other threats.
In these cases, Palestinians, often referred to by IDF soldiers as “shawish” (an Arabic term of Turkish origin meaning sergeant), are sent into buildings to conduct searches before Israeli forces enter.
Reports from Haaretz and CNN have highlighted the use of human shields by the IDF in Gaza. According to CNN’s investigation in late October, Palestinians, including minors, have claimed they were forced to serve as human shields under threat of violence.
The practice, which soldiers reportedly refer to as the “mosquito protocol,” has raised concerns among human rights groups and the international community due to its violation of international law.
The use of Palestinians as human shields by Israeli forces is not a new phenomenon. During Operation Defensive Shield in 2002, the IDF used a similar strategy called the “neighbor protocol,” in which Palestinians were sent into homes to search for booby traps or to locate individuals wanted by the IDF. Human rights organizations have long condemned this practice, arguing that it places civilians at unnecessary risk and violates international humanitarian law.
In response to growing concerns, human rights groups petitioned Israel’s Supreme Court to end the use of human shields. In 2005, the court ruled that the practice was illegal under international law and ordered the IDF to cease its use of civilians in this manner.
Following this ruling, former IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz instructed the army to implement the court’s decision. However, despite the legal ruling, the practice appears to have resurfaced in recent years, as evidenced by the reports from Gaza.
The IDF’s confirmation of the incident, along with its statement that the findings of the investigation have been implemented in current operations, has not quelled international outrage over the killing and the broader issue of using civilians as human shields.
Rights groups have called for greater accountability and stronger measures to protect Palestinian civilians from further harm.
As the situation in Gaza continues to evolve, questions remain about the adherence of Israeli military practices to international law and the protection of Palestinian rights.
The death of the Palestinian man under these circumstances highlights the ongoing human rights concerns surrounding the use of human shields and raises further questions about Israel’s military tactics in the region.
Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza, now entering its 458th day, have resulted in the deaths of over 45,854 Palestinians and left 109,139 others wounded.
Meanwhile, in Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes have claimed the lives of 4,048 people since October 2023, continuing to violate the truce agreement established on November 27.
