One of them is in the use of human shields for their ongoing operations for those in Hamas in Gaza who may survive and continue to fight the Israel Defence Force (IDF). This is a textbook use of human shields, which is prohibited under international law. Either using human shields will prevent Israel from attacking altogether as Israel determines it can’t attack without harming civilians, or as it has done now, attack even at the cost of civilian casualties. The use of human shields is an example of ‘lawfare’; the use of the legal system against an enemy by delegitimising them, and winning a public relations victory that may gain international support in such bodies as the United Nations Security Council. The 27 European Union nations see this growing dilemma clearly, with the European Union nations jointly condemning Hamas for what they described as the use of hospitals and civilians as “human shields” in the war against Israel.

Source: The Guardian November 21, 2023 12:56 UTC