While on a pre-approved visit to the Jenin refugee camp to assess the humanitarian situation, a delegation of international diplomats came under fire from Israeli soldiers. Although no one was injured, the Israeli military claimed the delegation deviated from its approved route, prompting warning shots. Several European nations, including France and Italy, condemned the incident and summoned Israeli ambassadors for explanations. The incident, which involved diplomats from numerous countries, has drawn widespread international criticism.
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An Israeli soldier, speaking anonymously, alleges that he was ordered by his commander to use Palestinian civilians as human shields during operations in Gaza, a practice reportedly called the “mosquito protocol.” This soldier’s testimony, corroborated by other whistleblowers through the organization Breaking the Silence, claims the use of civilians to check for explosives in buildings was widespread policy. While the IDF denies using human shields and requests more information for investigation, similar accounts of using Palestinians as human shields have also emerged from the occupied West Bank. The IDF’s actions in both Gaza and the West Bank have resulted in numerous civilian casualties and widespread displacement.
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John Q. Hosedrinker