Defense for Children International – Palestine, 26.11.2024
Ramallah, November 26, 2024—Israeli armed forces have forced Palestinian children to act as human shields during the siege on Jabalia refugee camp in north Gaza, placing them directly in harm’s way amid live fire and tank shelling.
During a series of military operations in the Jabalia refugee camp, the Israeli military forced Palestinian children and their families to stand in front of tanks and military vehicles as soldiers fired on civilian areas in multiple incidents during October, according to documentation collected by Defense for Children International – Palestine. On October 15, Israeli tanks surrounded the camp, firing indiscriminately and severely injuring several Palestinian civilians. In multiple documented cases, including on October 15, 17, and 20, Israeli soldiers detained Palestinian children as young as six years old, using them and other Palestinian civilians to shield advancing military forces. These tactics not only endanger the lives of children but constitute an egregious violation of international humanitarian law…