Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA: The IDF gathered potential terrorists (namely men
within the relevant age range) into a central location as they proceeded to
carry out operations in a neighborhood in the Gaza Strip. They provided
them with food and blankets and ultimately released all noncombatants after
determining their status.

This is not using them as "human shields" - this is isolating them in a
battle zone.

If the IDF wanted to use them as human shields they would have positioned
them in front of the IDF forces - not behind the troops guarding them.]

Israel accused of using farmers as human shields
JASON KOUTOUKIS IN GAZA CITY
The Canberra Times (Australia) 28/01/2009 7:08:00 AM
www.smh.com.au/articles/2009/01/27/1232818435831

METHODS used by the Israel Defence Forces in their assault on the Gaza Strip
have raised questions about whether Israeli military commanders authorised
the use of Palestinians as human shields - a charge Israel has repeatedly
made against Hamas.

Palestinian farmers from the neighbourhood of al-Atatra, about 10 kilometres
north of the centre of Gaza City, said Israeli ground troops arrived in the
area on January 7.

Samir Abu Dayer, 59, a farmer, said soldiers occupied several hectares of
farmland behind his house. The fields that before the war produced olives,
oranges and lemons are now a large stretch of pale yellow sand and broken
irrigation pipes.

A sandpit roughly the size of an Olympic pool, with four walls about two
metres high pushed together by bulldozers, dominates one field.

According to Mr Dayer, and several other residents whose houses bordered the
field, Israeli troops quickly evacuated the surrounding houses. "They
entered my house with a tank," Mr Dayer said. "I was told to come outside
with my family."

Told to strip to his underwear, Mr Dayer said his hands were tied behind his
back with white plastic cables, then he was moved into the sandpit area.

Mohammed Madhoun, 22, a media and public relations student at the Al-Aqsa
University, whose home is across a laneway from Mr Dayer's home, said he and
his parents were ordered to do the same.

"I was told to take off my clothes by one soldier, told to put them on again
by another, and then take them off again. My hands were tied and I was taken
into this area," Mr Madhoun said, pointing to the sandpit.

Ali Ajramy, 39, a tailor, thrust his hands forward to show the sores on his
wrists caused by plastic cables

"I was taken into this prison," he said. "And I was told to be quiet and
kneel down."

The three were among about 85 men who were moved into the sandpit area and
gathered at the western end.

They said the Israeli troops then took position around perimeter of the
sandpit area and began to engage with Palestinian resistance fighters. "We
kept our heads down, we didn't move for two days," Mr Madhoun said. "There
was lots of shooting over our heads but I don't know where it was coming
from. We were given blankets and food."

Empty cans of Israeli rations litter the sandpit. The soldiers dug several
foxholes.

"After two days we were taken to Beersheva, in Israel," Mr Dayer said. "We
were there for five days and then brought back to Gaza and freed." He showed
Herald a release form in Hebrew, given when they were returned to Gaza.

An Israeli spokesman told Herald it did not comment on operational matters.
But he stressed the Israeli military does not use anyone as "human shields".

The deputy director of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, Jaber
Jishah, said it appeared a textbook example of human shields.

"We are investigating this very thoroughly," he said.