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This has been a long time coming, and I'm putting it in the general Middle East forum, instead of the Israel/Palestine forum because, although it addresses conflicts in which Israel is involved, it cites historical human shield abuses in Lebanon, not just in Palestine.
Using human shields is an international war crime, and yet, we rarely see any repercussions because those employing it are not always state-sponsored actors. Yet, the innocent are just as dead no matter who violates this rule.
My question to posters is whether these terrorist groups will change their ways if this bill passes. All discussion is welcome. You don't have to be pro-Lebanon, pro-Israel, or pro-anything to have an opinion on whether groups should be sanctioned for this violation of international law.
H.R. 3342 "Sanctioning Hizballah's Illicit use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act," is being considered in Congress right now, and if it passes, we well be able to impose sanctions on those entities that make use of human shields.
Some background that you don't always read in the media:
In short -- when you've seen the horrific photos of Arab children torn, limb from limb, or otherwise dead and desecrated, international law was violated -- not by Israel -- but by the terrorist factions that put those children in harm's way for the sole purpose of having them killed and then using the images as propaganda to turn the world against Israel.
There are, of course, times when Israel has stepped over the line, too, but nothing in comparison with what Hezbollah and Hamas have done when it comes to producing high civilian death tolls.
This isn't opinion. These flagrant violations of international law are documented.
Lebanon went on record claiming that the children were killed as a result of "indiscriminate attacks" but UN investigations reported that the vast majority of Israeli strikes were valid targets, meaning they hit targets were munitions were stored and from where missiles were fired. Hezbollah, however, was putting children and other innocents in those locations so they would be killed when Israel retaliated.
See Wiki for documented used of human shields.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_shield
Using human shields is an international war crime, and yet, we rarely see any repercussions because those employing it are not always state-sponsored actors. Yet, the innocent are just as dead no matter who violates this rule.
My question to posters is whether these terrorist groups will change their ways if this bill passes. All discussion is welcome. You don't have to be pro-Lebanon, pro-Israel, or pro-anything to have an opinion on whether groups should be sanctioned for this violation of international law.
H.R. 3342 "Sanctioning Hizballah's Illicit use of Civilians as Defenseless Shields Act," is being considered in Congress right now, and if it passes, we well be able to impose sanctions on those entities that make use of human shields.
Some background that you don't always read in the media:
https://policy.house.gov/legislativ...illicit-use-civilians-defenseless-shields-actDespite existing sanctions, Hizballah continues to expand its military capabilities and remains “the most technically capable terrorist group in the world,” according to the State Department[1].
Human shields are civilians, prisoners of war, and other noncombatants whose presence is designed to protect combatants and military objects from attack. The use of human shields violates international law and human rights. Hizballah continues to use human shields in the conflict with the state of Israel, including storing weapons inside civilian homes and firing rockets from inside populated civilian areas[2].
According to the bill’s sponsor, “Since its creation, Hizballah has been an Iranian proxy dedicated to destroying Israel and combating American interests in the Middle East. From its bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in 1983, to its rocket attacks against Israel, to its expanding influence in Syria today. Hizballah’s terrorist activities have served as a direct challenge to the United States and our allies. The SHIELDS Act is a bipartisan effort to diminish Hizballah’s military capabilities and malign influence in the Middle East while advancing U.S. interests.”[3]
In short -- when you've seen the horrific photos of Arab children torn, limb from limb, or otherwise dead and desecrated, international law was violated -- not by Israel -- but by the terrorist factions that put those children in harm's way for the sole purpose of having them killed and then using the images as propaganda to turn the world against Israel.
There are, of course, times when Israel has stepped over the line, too, but nothing in comparison with what Hezbollah and Hamas have done when it comes to producing high civilian death tolls.
This isn't opinion. These flagrant violations of international law are documented.
Lebanon went on record claiming that the children were killed as a result of "indiscriminate attacks" but UN investigations reported that the vast majority of Israeli strikes were valid targets, meaning they hit targets were munitions were stored and from where missiles were fired. Hezbollah, however, was putting children and other innocents in those locations so they would be killed when Israel retaliated.
See Wiki for documented used of human shields.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_shield