Israeli army used 80-year-old Gazan as a human shield: They tied explosives to his neck

Compiled by: Suat TEKİN - 12punto.com.tr

Since October 7, 2023, the IDF, which has been conducting raids on areas where Palestinians live, forced an 80-year-old Gazan to search for booby traps by tying explosives to his neck. It was noted that the elderly man was forced to migrate from the region where he lived after being used as a 'human shield' by soldiers. Following the incident, the elderly man and his wife, who migrated to the south of Gaza, were killed by the IDF.

The incident, which is stated to have taken place in May 2024, occurred in the Zaytoun neighborhood of Gaza City. Soldiers from the Nahal Infantry Brigade forcibly removed an 80-year-old man from his home and used him to search for traps in the area. The Israeli soldiers, who tied explosives to the elderly man's neck, threatened to blow his head off if he did not search for the traps.

According to a report by Israel's independent media outlet ‘The Hottest Place in Hell’, the IDF forced the man they used to search for booby traps to migrate to the south of Gaza along with his wife. Encountering a different IDF battalion on the way, the elderly man and his wife were massacred by Israeli soldiers.

In a report by the Haaretz newspaper, it was stated that the elderly man was unable to walk at the time of the incident. The newspaper reported that the Israeli soldiers who raided the elderly couple's home kept the 80-year-old man's wife under surveillance in the house, while explosives were placed around the Gazan man's neck.

As a result of Israel's bombardment of Gaza, all residential areas in the north of the region have become unusable

WHAT DID THE ELDERLY COUPLE EXPERIENCE?

The Israeli press included interviews with soldiers who witnessed the incident in their reports. The soldiers noted that the elderly man and his wife could not escape the area because they were unable to walk to the south of Gaza.

One of the soldiers who witnessed the incident said, 'The commander tied the IED wire (explosive material) to the old man's neck to prevent him from running away.'

Another soldier explained what happened with these words:

'They explained that they had nowhere to go and could not be evacuated to Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. The man was walking with a cane and they said they couldn't walk that far. He was entering every house before us. So if there was a booby trap or a terrorist, he would be the one to trigger the device, not us.'

An Israeli soldier who was in the area at the time the couple died said the following:

'100 meters later, the other battalion saw them and opened fire immediately. They just died in the street.'

In response to the reports, the IDF stated that they were unaware of the incident. Officials stated that they would 'launch an investigation if more details emerge.'

News Source: 12punto