British teens recruited by Israel to join Gaza onslaught

British teens recruited by Israel to join Gaza onslaught
Sat Jul 19, 2014 15:04:16

A human rights group has warned that more than 100 British teenagers have been recruited to join the Israeli forces and fight “shoulder to shoulder” with them in brutal attacks on the Gaza Strip.

The recruitment of dozens of British citizens to join the ranks of the Israeli military behind the onslaught in Gaza has sparked anger.

The Israeli military has confirmed the presence of over 100 British “lone soldiers” serving 18-month tours of duty in its ranks.

Director of Arab Organization for Human Rights (AOHR) Muhammed Jamil on Friday warned that the activities of recruiting groups preying on British youngsters had intensified over recent weeks, urging a government investigation into the issue.

According to the AOHR, British “recruits have on occasion been required to engage in activities which endangered the lives of Palestinians such as has been the case in Gaza.”

Based on British law, it is not an offence for a British citizen to join a foreign state army.

Israel is pressing ahead with its relentless aerial and ground assaults on the besieged Gaza Strip, pushing the death toll to some 316 in just 12 days.

The Palestinian Health Ministry says more than 70 of the victims have been children.

More than 2,200 others have been injured since the offensive began on July 8.

The United Nations says the number of displaced people of Gaza has almost doubled over the past 24 hours. More than 40,000 Palestinians are now homeless.

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