Hamas reacts to Israel’s use of Palestinian prisoners as human shields

Izzat Rishq, a senior Hamas official has condemned the Israeli army’s use of Palestinian prisoners as human shields during military operations in the Gaza Strip, labeling it a “full-fledged war crime” and calling for Israel to be prosecuted.

In a written statement, Rishq said, “The Nazi occupation army’s use of Palestinian prisoners as human shields during operations in the Gaza Strip is a full-fledged war crime.”

He emphasized that this practice constitutes a clear violation of all war laws and prisoners’ rights, disregarding all international conventions, laws, and agreements. Rishq pointed out that the list of violations against Palestinian detainees and prisoners, including hunger, humiliation, and harassment, now includes the crime of using human shields.

Rishq highlighted that these violations also include “deliberate medical neglect, deprivation of food and medicine, breaking of limbs, slow killing, and field executions.” He called on the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court to add the crime of using human shields to the war crimes file against occupation leaders.

On June 22, Israeli soldiers conducted a raid in Jabariyat, on the outskirts of Jenin, shooting and wounding three young men. They then tied one of the wounded men to the hood of a military vehicle, using him as a human shield, and prevented medical teams from reaching the injured Palestinian. Al Jazeera obtained and broadcast footage of these operations, showing Israeli soldiers using Palestinian prisoners as human shields.