Latest news with #CeasefireNow
Telegraph
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Protesters march through London waving Iranian flags
Pro-Palestine protesters marched through London on Saturday chanting 'stop bombing Iran'. Large crowds gathered in Parliament Square waving Palestinian and Iranian flags, while also demanding an end to the bombing in Gaza. Protesters urged the Government to halt all military support for Israel and lobby the country to de-escalate its actions in the Middle East. It comes after Israel launched a series of air strikes against nuclear and military sites in Iran on Thursday night. Tehran then struck back on Friday with missile attacks on Tel Aviv. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign announced an emergency protest earlier in the week which it publicised on social media, titled: 'Emergency Protest: Stop Bombing Iran - Stop Arming Israel'. In a post on X, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign shared a video which showed a large crowd chanting outside the houses of Parliament. A post read: 'Thousands in Parliament Square demanding our government stop arming Israel and pressure it to stop bombing Iran and end its genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.' Protesters also held placards which read 'don't attack Iran' amid other banners which read 'stop arming Israel' and 'ceasefire now'. An Instagram caption from the group read: 'As it commits genocide against the Palestinians, Israel is now bombing Iran. Join us to demand our government stop arming genocidal Israel.' In a clip on X, the English author Michael Rosen, who was at the march, was shown reading a poem which included a quote: 'They come, they kill, they kill, they go'. Meanwhile, a group of Pro-Palestine protesters were seen waving Iranian flags at a march in Glasgow. A crowd walked through the Scottish city in the rain with a number of Palestinian flags and a large Iranian flag. The protests come after the prime minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, warned that the country would intensify attacks on Iran in the coming days. 'We will hit every site and every target of the Ayatollahs' regime and what they have felt so far is nothing compared with what they will be handed in the coming days,' he said in a video message. He added: 'We have dealt a very severe blow to Iran's main enrichment site, and if necessary, we will also hit it again. 'There is a huge threat from ballistic missiles, we have taken action to destroy Iran's ballistic missile production capabilities.'
South Wales Guardian
24-05-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
Israeli use of Palestinian human shields in Gaza is widespread, detainees say
They claimed the practice has become ubiquitous over 19 months of war. Israel's military responded by saying it prohibits using civilians as shields, a practice it has long accused Hamas of using. Chiefs say they are investigating a handful of cases, but would not provide any details. Seven Palestinians described to The Associated Press being used as shields in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. One said he was beaten, bound and blindfolded. Two Israeli solders also described using human shields, and that derogatory terms like 'mosquito' were used to refer to the Palestinians. One Palestinian man, Ayman Abu Hamadan, told the Associated Press that when he was detained in northern Gaza last year, the only time he was not bound or blindfolded was when he was used by Israeli soldiers as their human shield. Dressed in army fatigues with a camera fixed to his forehead, the 36-year-old was forced into houses in the Gaza Strip to make sure they were clear of bombs and gunmen, he said. When one unit finished with him, he was passed to the next. 'They beat me and told me: 'You have no other option; do this or we'll kill you,'' he said, describing the two and a half weeks he was held last summer by the Israeli military in northern Gaza. One Israeli officer said that orders often came from the top, and at times nearly every platoon used a Palestinian to clear locations. Several Palestinians and soldiers told the AP that Israeli troops are systematically forcing Palestinians to act as human shields in Gaza, sending them into buildings and tunnels to check for explosives or militants. The dangerous practice has become ubiquitous during 19 months of war, they said. The Israeli military has long accused Hamas of using human shields in Gaza. Israeli officials blame the militants for the civilian death toll in its offensive that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. In a statement to the AP, the military said it also bans otherwise coercing civilians to participate in operations, and 'all such orders are routinely emphasised to the forces'. The AP spoke with seven Palestinians who described being used as shields in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and with two members of Israel's military who said they engaged in the practice, which is prohibited by international law. Rights groups have warned that this has become standard procedure in the war. 'These are not isolated accounts; they point to a systemic failure and a horrifying moral collapse,' said Nadav Weiman, executive director of Breaking the Silence – a whistleblower group of former Israeli soldiers that has collected testimonies about the practice from within the military. Children in #Gaza want to be just that: children#CeasefireNow — UNRWA (@UNRWA) May 24, 2025 'Israel rightly condemns Hamas for using civilians as human shields, but our own soldiers describe doing the very same.' Mr Abu Hamadan said he was detained in August after being separated from his family, and soldiers told him he'd help with a 'special mission'. He was forced, for 17 days, to search houses and inspect every hole in the ground for tunnels, he said. Soldiers stood behind him and, once it was clear, entered the buildings to damage or destroy them, he said. He spent each night bound in a dark room, only to wake up and do it again. Rights groups say Israel has used Palestinians as shields in Gaza and the West Bank for decades. Experts say this war is the first time in decades that the practice – and the debate around it – has been so widespread. The two Israeli soldiers who spoke to the AP – and a third who provided testimony to Breaking the Silence – said commanders were aware of the use of human shields and tolerated it, with some giving orders to do so. Some said it was referred to as the 'mosquito protocol', and that Palestinians were also referred to as 'wasps' and other dehumanising terms. The soldiers – who said they are no longer serving in Gaza – said the practice sped up operations, saved ammunition, and spared combat dogs from injury or death. The soldiers said they first became aware human shields were being used shortly after the war erupted on October 7 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, and that it became widespread by the middle of 2024. Orders to 'bring a mosquito' often came via radio, they said – shorthand everyone understood. Soldiers acted on commanding officers' orders, according to the officer who spoke to the AP. He said that by the end of his nine months in Gaza, every infantry unit used a Palestinian to clear houses before entering. 'Once this idea was initiated, it caught on like fire in a field,' the 26-year-old said. 'People saw how effective and easy it was.' One report documented the accidental killing of a Palestinian, he said – troops did not realise another unit was using him as a shield and shot him as he ran into a house. The officer recommended the Palestinians should be dressed in army clothes to avoid misidentification. He said he knew of at least one other Palestinian who died while he was used as a shield, having passed out in a tunnel.
North Wales Chronicle
24-05-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Israeli use of Palestinian human shields in Gaza is widespread, detainees say
They claimed the practice has become ubiquitous over 19 months of war. Israel's military responded by saying it prohibits using civilians as shields, a practice it has long accused Hamas of using. Chiefs say they are investigating a handful of cases, but would not provide any details. Seven Palestinians described to The Associated Press being used as shields in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. One said he was beaten, bound and blindfolded. Two Israeli solders also described using human shields, and that derogatory terms like 'mosquito' were used to refer to the Palestinians. One Palestinian man, Ayman Abu Hamadan, told the Associated Press that when he was detained in northern Gaza last year, the only time he was not bound or blindfolded was when he was used by Israeli soldiers as their human shield. Dressed in army fatigues with a camera fixed to his forehead, the 36-year-old was forced into houses in the Gaza Strip to make sure they were clear of bombs and gunmen, he said. When one unit finished with him, he was passed to the next. 'They beat me and told me: 'You have no other option; do this or we'll kill you,'' he said, describing the two and a half weeks he was held last summer by the Israeli military in northern Gaza. One Israeli officer said that orders often came from the top, and at times nearly every platoon used a Palestinian to clear locations. Several Palestinians and soldiers told the AP that Israeli troops are systematically forcing Palestinians to act as human shields in Gaza, sending them into buildings and tunnels to check for explosives or militants. The dangerous practice has become ubiquitous during 19 months of war, they said. The Israeli military has long accused Hamas of using human shields in Gaza. Israeli officials blame the militants for the civilian death toll in its offensive that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. In a statement to the AP, the military said it also bans otherwise coercing civilians to participate in operations, and 'all such orders are routinely emphasised to the forces'. The AP spoke with seven Palestinians who described being used as shields in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and with two members of Israel's military who said they engaged in the practice, which is prohibited by international law. Rights groups have warned that this has become standard procedure in the war. 'These are not isolated accounts; they point to a systemic failure and a horrifying moral collapse,' said Nadav Weiman, executive director of Breaking the Silence – a whistleblower group of former Israeli soldiers that has collected testimonies about the practice from within the military. Children in #Gaza want to be just that: children#CeasefireNow — UNRWA (@UNRWA) May 24, 2025 'Israel rightly condemns Hamas for using civilians as human shields, but our own soldiers describe doing the very same.' Mr Abu Hamadan said he was detained in August after being separated from his family, and soldiers told him he'd help with a 'special mission'. He was forced, for 17 days, to search houses and inspect every hole in the ground for tunnels, he said. Soldiers stood behind him and, once it was clear, entered the buildings to damage or destroy them, he said. He spent each night bound in a dark room, only to wake up and do it again. Rights groups say Israel has used Palestinians as shields in Gaza and the West Bank for decades. Experts say this war is the first time in decades that the practice – and the debate around it – has been so widespread. The two Israeli soldiers who spoke to the AP – and a third who provided testimony to Breaking the Silence – said commanders were aware of the use of human shields and tolerated it, with some giving orders to do so. Some said it was referred to as the 'mosquito protocol', and that Palestinians were also referred to as 'wasps' and other dehumanising terms. The soldiers – who said they are no longer serving in Gaza – said the practice sped up operations, saved ammunition, and spared combat dogs from injury or death. The soldiers said they first became aware human shields were being used shortly after the war erupted on October 7 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, and that it became widespread by the middle of 2024. Orders to 'bring a mosquito' often came via radio, they said – shorthand everyone understood. Soldiers acted on commanding officers' orders, according to the officer who spoke to the AP. He said that by the end of his nine months in Gaza, every infantry unit used a Palestinian to clear houses before entering. 'Once this idea was initiated, it caught on like fire in a field,' the 26-year-old said. 'People saw how effective and easy it was.' One report documented the accidental killing of a Palestinian, he said – troops did not realise another unit was using him as a shield and shot him as he ran into a house. The officer recommended the Palestinians should be dressed in army clothes to avoid misidentification. He said he knew of at least one other Palestinian who died while he was used as a shield, having passed out in a tunnel.
Leader Live
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Leader Live
Israeli use of Palestinian human shields in Gaza is widespread, detainees say
They claimed the practice has become ubiquitous over 19 months of war. Israel's military responded by saying it prohibits using civilians as shields, a practice it has long accused Hamas of using. Chiefs say they are investigating a handful of cases, but would not provide any details. Seven Palestinians described to The Associated Press being used as shields in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. One said he was beaten, bound and blindfolded. Two Israeli solders also described using human shields, and that derogatory terms like 'mosquito' were used to refer to the Palestinians. One Palestinian man, Ayman Abu Hamadan, told the Associated Press that when he was detained in northern Gaza last year, the only time he was not bound or blindfolded was when he was used by Israeli soldiers as their human shield. Dressed in army fatigues with a camera fixed to his forehead, the 36-year-old was forced into houses in the Gaza Strip to make sure they were clear of bombs and gunmen, he said. When one unit finished with him, he was passed to the next. 'They beat me and told me: 'You have no other option; do this or we'll kill you,'' he said, describing the two and a half weeks he was held last summer by the Israeli military in northern Gaza. One Israeli officer said that orders often came from the top, and at times nearly every platoon used a Palestinian to clear locations. Several Palestinians and soldiers told the AP that Israeli troops are systematically forcing Palestinians to act as human shields in Gaza, sending them into buildings and tunnels to check for explosives or militants. The dangerous practice has become ubiquitous during 19 months of war, they said. The Israeli military has long accused Hamas of using human shields in Gaza. Israeli officials blame the militants for the civilian death toll in its offensive that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. In a statement to the AP, the military said it also bans otherwise coercing civilians to participate in operations, and 'all such orders are routinely emphasised to the forces'. The AP spoke with seven Palestinians who described being used as shields in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and with two members of Israel's military who said they engaged in the practice, which is prohibited by international law. Rights groups have warned that this has become standard procedure in the war. 'These are not isolated accounts; they point to a systemic failure and a horrifying moral collapse,' said Nadav Weiman, executive director of Breaking the Silence – a whistleblower group of former Israeli soldiers that has collected testimonies about the practice from within the military. Children in #Gaza want to be just that: children#CeasefireNow — UNRWA (@UNRWA) May 24, 2025 'Israel rightly condemns Hamas for using civilians as human shields, but our own soldiers describe doing the very same.' Mr Abu Hamadan said he was detained in August after being separated from his family, and soldiers told him he'd help with a 'special mission'. He was forced, for 17 days, to search houses and inspect every hole in the ground for tunnels, he said. Soldiers stood behind him and, once it was clear, entered the buildings to damage or destroy them, he said. He spent each night bound in a dark room, only to wake up and do it again. Rights groups say Israel has used Palestinians as shields in Gaza and the West Bank for decades. Experts say this war is the first time in decades that the practice – and the debate around it – has been so widespread. The two Israeli soldiers who spoke to the AP – and a third who provided testimony to Breaking the Silence – said commanders were aware of the use of human shields and tolerated it, with some giving orders to do so. Some said it was referred to as the 'mosquito protocol', and that Palestinians were also referred to as 'wasps' and other dehumanising terms. The soldiers – who said they are no longer serving in Gaza – said the practice sped up operations, saved ammunition, and spared combat dogs from injury or death. The soldiers said they first became aware human shields were being used shortly after the war erupted on October 7 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, and that it became widespread by the middle of 2024. Orders to 'bring a mosquito' often came via radio, they said – shorthand everyone understood. Soldiers acted on commanding officers' orders, according to the officer who spoke to the AP. He said that by the end of his nine months in Gaza, every infantry unit used a Palestinian to clear houses before entering. 'Once this idea was initiated, it caught on like fire in a field,' the 26-year-old said. 'People saw how effective and easy it was.' One report documented the accidental killing of a Palestinian, he said – troops did not realise another unit was using him as a shield and shot him as he ran into a house. The officer recommended the Palestinians should be dressed in army clothes to avoid misidentification. He said he knew of at least one other Palestinian who died while he was used as a shield, having passed out in a tunnel.
Powys County Times
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Powys County Times
Israeli use of Palestinian human shields in Gaza is widespread, detainees say
Israeli troops are systematically forcing Palestinians to act as human shields in Gaza, sending them into buildings and tunnels to check for bombs and gunmen, Israeli soldiers and former detainees have said. They claimed the practice has become ubiquitous over 19 months of war. Israel's military responded by saying it prohibits using civilians as shields, a practice it has long accused Hamas of using. Chiefs say they are investigating a handful of cases, but would not provide any details. Seven Palestinians described to The Associated Press being used as shields in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. One said he was beaten, bound and blindfolded. Two Israeli solders also described using human shields, and that derogatory terms like 'mosquito' were used to refer to the Palestinians. One Palestinian man, Ayman Abu Hamadan, told the Associated Press that when he was detained in northern Gaza last year, the only time he was not bound or blindfolded was when he was used by Israeli soldiers as their human shield. Dressed in army fatigues with a camera fixed to his forehead, the 36-year-old was forced into houses in the Gaza Strip to make sure they were clear of bombs and gunmen, he said. When one unit finished with him, he was passed to the next. 'They beat me and told me: 'You have no other option; do this or we'll kill you,'' he said, describing the two and a half weeks he was held last summer by the Israeli military in northern Gaza. One Israeli officer said that orders often came from the top, and at times nearly every platoon used a Palestinian to clear locations. Several Palestinians and soldiers told the AP that Israeli troops are systematically forcing Palestinians to act as human shields in Gaza, sending them into buildings and tunnels to check for explosives or militants. The dangerous practice has become ubiquitous during 19 months of war, they said. The Israeli military has long accused Hamas of using human shields in Gaza. Israeli officials blame the militants for the civilian death toll in its offensive that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians. In a statement to the AP, the military said it also bans otherwise coercing civilians to participate in operations, and 'all such orders are routinely emphasised to the forces'. The AP spoke with seven Palestinians who described being used as shields in Gaza and the occupied West Bank and with two members of Israel's military who said they engaged in the practice, which is prohibited by international law. Rights groups have warned that this has become standard procedure in the war. 'These are not isolated accounts; they point to a systemic failure and a horrifying moral collapse,' said Nadav Weiman, executive director of Breaking the Silence – a whistleblower group of former Israeli soldiers that has collected testimonies about the practice from within the military. Children in #Gaza want to be just that: children #CeasefireNow — UNRWA (@UNRWA) May 24, 2025 'Israel rightly condemns Hamas for using civilians as human shields, but our own soldiers describe doing the very same.' Mr Abu Hamadan said he was detained in August after being separated from his family, and soldiers told him he'd help with a 'special mission'. He was forced, for 17 days, to search houses and inspect every hole in the ground for tunnels, he said. Soldiers stood behind him and, once it was clear, entered the buildings to damage or destroy them, he said. He spent each night bound in a dark room, only to wake up and do it again. Rights groups say Israel has used Palestinians as shields in Gaza and the West Bank for decades. Experts say this war is the first time in decades that the practice – and the debate around it – has been so widespread. The two Israeli soldiers who spoke to the AP – and a third who provided testimony to Breaking the Silence – said commanders were aware of the use of human shields and tolerated it, with some giving orders to do so. Some said it was referred to as the 'mosquito protocol', and that Palestinians were also referred to as 'wasps' and other dehumanising terms. The soldiers – who said they are no longer serving in Gaza – said the practice sped up operations, saved ammunition, and spared combat dogs from injury or death. The soldiers said they first became aware human shields were being used shortly after the war erupted on October 7 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, and that it became widespread by the middle of 2024. Orders to 'bring a mosquito' often came via radio, they said – shorthand everyone understood. Soldiers acted on commanding officers' orders, according to the officer who spoke to the AP. He said that by the end of his nine months in Gaza, every infantry unit used a Palestinian to clear houses before entering. 'Once this idea was initiated, it caught on like fire in a field,' the 26-year-old said. 'People saw how effective and easy it was.' One report documented the accidental killing of a Palestinian, he said – troops did not realise another unit was using him as a shield and shot him as he ran into a house. The officer recommended the Palestinians should be dressed in army clothes to avoid misidentification.
