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2 Israeli Soldiers Convicted of Using Palestinian boy as Human Shield


2 Israeli Soldiers Convicted of Using Palestinian boy as Human Shield
2 Israeli Soldiers Convicted of Using Palestinian boy as Human Shield

An Israeli military court has convicted two soldiers of using a Palestinian boy as a human shield during the 2008-2009 offensive on Gaza.

Sunday's convictions are among the most serious connected to soldiers' war conduct in Gaza. The ruling said the two soldiers inappropriately ordered a 9-year-old boy to open bags they thought might contain explosive material. The soldiers will be sentenced at a later date.

Israel says it launched the Gaza offensive in late December to stop cross-border rocket attacks by Palestinian militants. Three weeks of fighting killed at least 1,300 Palestinians and 13 Israelis.

Also Sunday, Israeli border officials say police have shot and killed a Palestinian laborer who was detained while entering East Jerusalem from the West Bank.

Israeli officials say the man was shot when he tried to grab the police officer's gun, but it was not clear whether the officer fired at the man or the gun misfired.

Israeli police say the man was among a group of Palestinians who had crossed over into East Jerusalem Sunday.

In September, riots erupted in East Jerusalem after Israeli police shot dead a Palestinian protester.

Israel captured East Jerusalem along with the West Bank from Jordan in the 1967 war.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.

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