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Soldiers charged with using boy, 10, as human shield
Two Israeli soldiers were charged in a military court yesterday with forcing a 10-year-old Palestinian boy in the Gaza Strip to handle objects they suspected of being rigged to explode.
The soldiers were indicted for "ordering the boy to open cases that they thought were explosives", Major Dorit Toval, the prosecutor, said. The alleged crime took place during Operation Cast Lead, the Israeli military onslaught waged more than a year ago with the aim of halting Hamas rocket fire at southern Israel. A gag order was placed barring publication of the names of the soldiers.
An army spokesman said the incident took place while troops conducted sweeps of a building in Gaza City's Tal al-Hawa neighbourhood. No date was given for the incident. The soldiers were charged with exceeding their authority and behaviour unbecoming a soldier.
"There is no need to mention that this is a transgression that has no place within the ranks of the military," Ms Toval added, in remarks broadcast on the state-run Voice of Israel radio. "There are clear rules also in regard to the waging of combat. In operational situations, soldiers must safeguard [these rules] during every campaign."