Israeli army 'used human shields'

An Israeli human rights group has accused Israel's army of using two young Palestinians as human shields during a recent raid in the West Bank. The B'Tselem group said it had testimony from a 15-year-old boy, his 24-year-old cousin and also an 11-year-old boy. They said soldiers had forced them at gunpoint to enter houses ahead of the troops during the raid in Nablus. The use of human shields is illegal under Israeli and international law. B'Tselem says the delay in investigating similar alleged incidents in the past suggests a leniency in the army's attitude towards soldiers who use civilians in this way.