The Institute for Middle East Understanding

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Use Palestinian prisoners as human shields near Gaza, Israeli MK says
Ma'an News, Nov 30, 2008

This article was originally published by Ma'an News and is republished with permission.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad prisoners held in Israel should be used as human shields to protect Israeli targets around Gaza, according to the suggestion of an Israeli Knesset member published in the Hebrew daily Maariv on Saturday.

Member of the Knesset (MK) with the right-wing Likud party Gilad Arden was quoted in the paper responding to the reports of eight injured Israeli soldiers after several projectiles were launched from the Gaza Strip.

According to the Israeli news source Yedioth Ahronoth, the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) claimed responsibility for the mortar fire, as well as the Izz Ad-Din Al-Qassam Brigades, which is affiliated with Hamas.

Arden told the paper that the Israeli government should transfer Palestinian prisoners affiliated with militant factions in Gaza to facilities that have been targeted by projectile attacks.

According to Arden, this move would make Palestinian factions "abstain" from launching more projectiles.

He suggested the immediate creation of a temporary detention center near the Gaza border, and said it should not be outfitted with bomb shelters or reinforced walls. Adopting such a measure, he said, would show Palestinians that they were serious about stopping attacks.

Palestinian MK Ahmad Tibi reacted with shock and outrage at the suggestion, saying it would lay the grounds for new war crimes charges.

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