Gaza

A child stands amid the bombed ruins of an apartment in Gaza City following Israeli air and artillery strikes on May 29, 2021. (Photo: Mohammed Zaanoun/ Majority World/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

Accusations of 'Human Shields' Have Become an Excuse for War Crimes

There is a growing realization that U.S. support for Israel is hampering U.S. diplomacy.

https://progressive.org/latest/human-shields-excuse-war-crimes-zunes-210617/

From photos of dead Palestinian children on the front page of The New York Times to gripping accounts of people digging through the wreckage of high-rise apartment complexes and office buildings, evidence of last month's horrific death toll from Israel's eleven-day bombing campaign was hard to deny.

Yet those defending the devastating military offensive are insisting that somehow Israel is not at fault for such massive destruction of the civilian infrastructure. Rather, they argue, it is actually the fault of the Palestinians themselves, specifically their use of "human shields."

"What neither Republican nor Democratic leaders have acknowledged, however, is that even if a terrorist group was using human shields in the narrower legal definition of the term, it still does not absolve armed forces from their obligation to avoid civilian casualties."

Join Us: News for people demanding a better world


Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place.

We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference.

Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today!

© 2023 The Progressive