cnn "israel uses palestinian prisoners as human shields"

The U.S. CNN reported based on testimony from Israeli soldiers that the Israeli military first sent in Palestinian prisoners to use them as human shields when searching for homes or underground caves suspected of installing bombs.

The Israeli soldier testified that when his unit entered dangerous places, Palestinian prisoners were allowed to enter first, and that the Israeli military was using this method widely under the name of the Mosquito Prevention Act.

The soldier originally used to use dogs or bulldozers to make holes in the walls, but last spring, he said intelligence officers were involved in Hamas and brought in two Palestinian prisoners to use them as human shields.

He also claimed that he had complained to the commander of the unit, but was ignored, saying that the lives of fellow soldiers were more important than international law.

The two prisoners were later released, which is evidence that the pair are not Hamas-linked terrorists, the soldier added.

CNN says it contacted the soldier through Breaking the Silence, an organization that helps Israeli soldiers confess their conscience.

The Israeli military has told CNN that the use of jailed civilians in military operations is strictly prohibited under military rules and guidelines in connection with the testimony in question.

A soldier who testified to CNN said he saw Hamas use Palestinian civilians as human shields, but stressed that the Israeli military should not follow the terrorist organization's methods.