&w=3840&q=100)
Israeli military's use of Palestinians as human shields in Gaza is systematic, says Osint report
Israeli military has been found to systematically use Palestinians as human shields in Gaza and West Bank. AI-generated image via DALL-E
A growing body of visual evidence from both Gaza and the West Bank shows Palestinian civilians being used as human shields during ongoing Israeli military operations, finds an open source intelligence (Osint) report. It has cited multiple videos circulating online, showing blindfolded and restrained individuals, who are placed in close proximity to soldiers, or even tied to the front of military vehicles during active missions.
The clips, which span several locations across Palestinian territories under Israeli control, depict a troubling consistency: unarmed individuals are bound, hooded, or made to wear military-style vests while positioned at the forefront of advancing units, the report says.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
These images have sparked outrage on social media, with many describing them as a flagrant violation of the laws of war.
The Centre for Information Resilience (CIR), an independent investigative group, has confirmed the authenticity of several of these videos. CIR's open-source intelligence (Osint) team employed geolocation, drone footage analysis, and cross-platform video comparisons to confirm where and when these incidents occurred.
Shocking documentation obtained by [@AJENews] originating from an Israeli drone showing the use of a Palestinian civilian as a human shield in Shujjaia Neighborhood, East Gaza city last December to search after militants, the man is being monitored by drones the whole time pic.twitter.com/ZdZ4HSS7tb — Younis Tirawi | يونس (@ytirawi) May 2, 2024
Patterns across territories
One clip shows a man strapped to the bonnet of an armoured vehicle as it drives through a residential street.
Another features several bound men flanked by soldiers, some of whom appear to be directing or shielding fire.
In a separate sequence, drone footage captures a blindfolded man in a combat zone while Israeli troops take cover behind him.
Stills taken from footage posted on 22 June 2024 show an individual being driven on the bonnet of an Israeli military vehicle. Image courtesy: CIR
One particularly graphic video clip showed a stripped, injured man with his hands bound behind his back man with at least six armed IDF soldiers standing beside an armoured vehicle.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
The man had red circular lesions throughout his body, including on his neck, torso, and right thigh, which were assessed as consistent with wounds caused by airsoft and pellet guns.
READ MORE: Body as battlefield: How Israel and Hamas top brass 'authorised' use of rape, sexual violence
The detained individual is seen entering a damaged residential building and is followed up a stairwell by a soldier holding a flashlight.
In each of these cases, CIR was able to match specific architectural features, road layouts, and environmental conditions to verify the location. This mapping confirmed that the events occurred not only in Gaza, but also in areas of the West Bank such as Jenin and Nablus, pointing to a broader operational trend rather than isolated misconduct.
Digital verification and online traces
CIR's analysts relied on real-time social media posts, often made within minutes or hours of the actual incidents. Metadata, shadow analysis, and satellite imagery were used to corroborate these posts. The circulation of these videos on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) provided both a distribution channel and a timestamped archive for investigators to assess.
CIR's findings add weight to previous reports, including one by _The Associated Press_ that presented accounts of seven Palestinians who had been used as human shields to make sure areas were clear of bombs and gunmen.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Under international humanitarian law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, the use of human shields is explicitly prohibited and considered a war crime.
As fighting continues and civilian protections appear increasingly eroded, these visuals, combined with geospatial data, provide a chilling look into the tactics employed on the ground.
(With inputs from agencies)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
18 minutes ago
- Mint
US pauses visa processing at embassy in Niger, State Dept says
WASHINGTON, July 26 (Reuters) - The United States is pausing all routine visa services at U.S. embassy in Nigerien capital Niamey until further notice, according to a State Department spokesperson and an internal State Department cable seen by Reuters on Saturday. The July 25-dated cable did not provide a reason for the move but a State Department spokesperson said the pause, which would cover all immigrant and non-immigrant visa categories, was in place until Washington addressed "concerns with the Government of Niger." The spokesperson did not provide further details on the reason, but said that most diplomatic and official visas were excepted from the pause. "The Trump Administration is focused on protecting our nation and our citizens by upholding the highest standards of national security and public safety through our visa process," the Department spokesperson said. The diplomatic cable also instructed consular officers in other visa processing posts to apply "heightened scrutiny" when assessing non-immigrant visa applications for Nigerien nationals, whose overstay rates it said were 8 percent for visitor visas and 27 percent for student and exchange visas. Consular managers should make an effort to reduce the number of overstays by nonimmigrant visa holders in the United States, the cable said and added: "In this regard, particular vigilance is needed in adjudicating Nigerien NIV applicants." The U.S. embassy in Niamey has informed all individuals impacted, the spokesperson added. As part of his hardline stance on immigration, President Donald Trump has ordered a nationwide campaign to arrest migrants who are in the country illegally and has vowed to deport millions of people, executing raids at work sites including farms that were largely exempted from enforcement during his first term. Trump administration officials have said student visa and green card holders are subject to deportation over their support for Palestinians and criticism of Israel's conduct in the war in Gaza, calling their actions a threat to U.S. foreign policy and accusing them of being pro-Hamas. Rubio in May said the number of visas he has revoked was probably in the thousands. The State Department under his leadership significantly tightened social media vetting for U.S. visa applicants. The U.S. military in September said it had completed its withdrawal from Niger, after the West African nation's ruling junta in April 2024 ordered Washington to withdraw its nearly 1,000 military personnel from the country. It was an embarrassing setback for Washington that followed a coup last year in the West African nation. Before the coup, Niger had been a key partner in the U.S. fight against insurgents in the Sahel region of Africa, who have killed thousands of people and displaced millions more. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, Editing by Nick Zieminski)
News18
41 minutes ago
- News18
Israels military says airdrops of aid will begin Saturday night in Gaza
Deir Al-Balah, Jul 26 (AP) Israel's military says airdrops of aid will begin Saturday night in Gaza, and humanitarian corridors will be established for United Nations convoys The statement issued late Saturday came after increasing accounts of starvation-related deaths in Gaza following months of experts' warnings of famine. International criticism, including by close allies, has grown as several hundred Palestinians have been killed in recent weeks while trying to reach aid. The military's statement did not say when the humanitarian corridors for U.N. convoys would open, or where. It also said the military is prepared to implement humanitarian pauses in densely populated areas. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
India signs up for 3-day UN meet for peaceful Palestine
Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen, in Gaza City. (Pic credit: AP) NEW DELHI: India is expected to participate in the upcoming UN high-level conference on the peaceful settlement of the Palestine question and the implementation of the two-state solution, amid renewed international efforts to end the war in Gaza. According to the list of delegates, 123 countries and agencies, including India, have signed up for the three-day meeting beginning Monday. The conference will be co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, both of which are key strategic partners for India. India had earlier voted in favour of a UN General Assembly resolution that called for an international summit in June 2025 to discuss the two-state solution. However, the summit had to be postponed due to the Iran-Israel conflict. US had last month warned countries against participating in the conference, arguing it could undermine ongoing efforts to end the war and secure the release of hostages, according to a diplomatic cable seen and reported by Reuters from Paris and Washington. According to France, the aim of the conference is to chart a path towards the two-state solution through "concrete measures" proposed by eight working groups. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Guapo: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo These groups have conducted wide-ranging consultations with UN member states and civil society actors. The conference has drawn global attention, especially following French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement that France would recognise Palestine as a state-making it the first G7 country to do so. The US has condemned France's move and will boycott the conference, along with Israel. India's permanent representative to the UN, P Harish, acknowledged the conference during a recent Security Council session on the Palestinian question. "While engaging in a forward-leaning and constructive manner, it is our hope that this conference would pave the way for concrete steps towards achieving a two-state solution," Harish said, while also calling for an immediate ceasefire and release of hostages. India, which was among 19 countries that abstained from a UNGA vote in June calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, has been in regular contact with the working groups and is expected to offer further inputs during the conference. The level of India's representation at the conference is still being finalised. On Gaza issue, India continues to balance its growing strategic partnership with Israel and its long-standing support for Palestinian cause. "India shares historic and strong ties with Palestinian brothers and sisters. We've stood by them and our commitment towards Palestinian cause is unwavering," Harish said. MEA also reiterated in Parliament on Friday that India remains committed to a negotiated two-state solution, leading to a sovereign, independent, and viable State of Palestine living in peace with Israel within secure and recognised borders.
