Israeli Forces Tie Explosive Cord to 80-Year-Old Palestinian, Use Him as Human Shield in Gaza
Israeli soldiers from the Nahal Brigade forcibly strapped an explosive cord around the neck of an 80-year-old disabled Palestinian man, using him as a human shield during a May 2024 operation in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood. According to testimonies published by Israeli outlet The Hottest Place in Hell, the unit ordered the man to enter abandoned homes under threat of decapitation. Hours later, soldiers fatally shot him and his wife as they attempted to flee.
Soldiers Deploy “Mosquito Procedure” in War Crime Scandal
The incident exposes a systematic Israeli military tactic dubbed the “Mosquito Procedure,” where troops force Palestinian civilians to walk ahead in combat zones to trigger explosives or deter attacks. Israeli soldiers’ accounts, corroborated by +972 Magazine, Al Jazeera, and Democracy Now, confirm this practice as routine. International law classifies using civilians as human shields as a war crime under the Rome Statute and Fourth Geneva Convention.
Israeli Unit Forces Elderly Man into Deadly Role
Testimonies reveal the elderly couple begged to stay home, citing mobility issues—the man relied on a cane, and their children had already fled south. Ignoring this, soldiers removed him, tied a detonation cord around his neck, and made him scout buildings for over eight hours. One soldier told The Hottest Place in Hell, “He went in first so any explosives or militants would hit him, not us.”
Israeli Battalion Kills Couple After Operation Ends
After the mission, soldiers ordered the couple to walk toward a so-called “Humanitarian Zone” in southern Gaza. Failing to alert other units, the army left the unarmed pair vulnerable. Another battalion spotted them 100 meters later and gunned them down instantly. Both died on the spot.
Israel Revives Banned Human Shield Tactics
Israel’s Supreme Court outlawed similar practices in 2005 after the “Neighbor Procedure” during the Second Intifada. Yet, soldiers claim that since October 7, 2023, battalion commanders have revived and institutionalized human shield use. “It’s an explicit order,” one soldier said, “but senior officials deny it when caught.”
Investigations Uncover Pattern of Abuse in Gaza
Haaretz and +972 Magazine previously reported Israeli forces using civilians to check for explosives or draw fire. Human rights groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch condemn these actions as part of systematic war crimes, including attacks on Gaza’s civilian infrastructure. A December 2023 Amnesty report labeled Israel’s campaign “attacks on civilians amounting to war crimes.”
International Law Clashes with Israeli Denials
The United Nations demands independent probes into Israeli war crimes, but U.S. and European support stalls ICC efforts. Israel refuses to cooperate, and its military dismisses the latest case, with the IOF Spokesperson’s Office claiming, “The incident is unknown; further details would trigger an inquiry.” Soldiers counter this, insisting, “Every combat troop in Gaza knows this happens.”
Experts Label Gaza Campaign as Ethnic Cleansing
Analysts, including former UN Rapporteur John Dugard, call Israel’s actions ethnic cleansing—a violent effort to displace Palestinians by destroying homes, schools, and hospitals. Since October 2023, Gaza’s infrastructure lies in ruins, fueling a deliberate push to render the enclave uninhabitable.
