Hamas: Israel’s use of Palestinians as human shields reflects “moral collapse”
The Hamas Movement has said that the testimonies from Palestinian captives and Zionist troops in a report released by the Associated Press (AP) proved that the Zionist regime’s occupation army committed “heinous crimes” against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Seven Palestinians spoke to AP about being used as human shields in both Gaza and the West Bank, in a report published on Saturday. Two Israeli officers also confirmed the systematic use of such a practice by Zionist regime’s military and security forces.
In a statement on Saturday, Hamas said the “crimes” referenced in the AP report were committed “under clear orders from senior military commanders,” calling them “war crimes and systematic violations of international law.”
“The testimonies reveal a systematic, deliberate policy that reflects the moral and institutional collapse within the ranks of this terrorist army,” the Movement said.
The use of civilians as human shields is strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law and constitutes a war crime under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.