Israeli officials discussed sending Palestinians into tunnels in Gaza to use as “human shields”, US intelligence sources have suggested.
The passages would have been lined with deadly explosives, according to intelligence shared with the White House during the final weeks of Joe Biden's presidency.
The report revealed that the Israeli Defense Forces considered using Palestinians for protection, something that is illegal under international law.
Two former officials, who revealed the report to the Reuters news agency, said it raised questions over the extent of the tactic’s usage and if they were acting on guidance from Israeli leadership.
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It was not disclosed if the Gazans referred to in the report were civilians or prisoners of war.
It could not determine if the Biden administration discussed the report with the Israeli government.
A statement provided to the Daily Telegraph said it “prohibits the use of civilians as human shields, or coercing them in any way to participate in military operations”.
The Military Police Criminal Investigation Division is investigating “suspicions involving Palestinians in military missions”, the statement continued.
It has been two years since the terrorist organization, Hamas, inflicted war on October 7 in Israel
| ReutersMedia reports claim Hamas used civilians as human shields, embedding militants into civilian structures such as hospitals.
Several pieces of intelligence about Israel circulated Washington during the Biden administration’s last few weeks as the intelligence community analysed new streams of information about Israel’s internal deliberations.
Last week, it was reported that the Biden administration gathered intelligence that Israeli lawyers had warned of evidence that could support war crime charges.
The former US officials said the intelligence from Israel raised serious concern among top officials.
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Hamas is classed as a terror group in Britain
| GETTYIf Israel were to be found guilty of war crimes, officials feared the US would be liable for providing weapons to the IDF.
This would likely stop United States and Israel intelligence sharing.
Lawyers from several US agencies determined the evidence showed Israel had not committed war crimes during the final moments of Biden’s administration.
Some former US officials said the intelligence received in the final moments of the Biden administration described only individual incidents in the conflict, and did not represent Israel’s overarching policy.
Hamas seized 251 hostages during the October 7, 2023 attacks in 2023 and killed another 1,200. Israel's counter-offensive has killed nearly 69,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health authority.
In September, Donald Trump revealed a 20-point plan to achieve peace including a ceasefire which took place on October 10. As part of the peace negotiations, Hamas returned 20 living hostages held in Gaza in return for 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
Israel agreed to return 15 Palestinian remains for each deceased hostage returned to them. At least 25 Israeli hostage remains have been returned by Hamas.
GB News has approached the IDF for comment.
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